Anxiety As Inauguration Of 10th Ogun Assembly Is Yet To Commence

By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta

A pall of tension took over the Ogun State House of Assembly complex in Abeokuta, the state capital as the 26 – member legislative house laboured to convene sitting for the inauguration as well as election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the 10th house.

Former Speaker Kunle Oluomo who is believably backed by Governor Dapo Abiodun is a major contender to the number 3 Office in the Gateway State while Daisi Elemide representing Odeda State Constituency is also being propelled by some interest groups to ascend the office.

The inauguration had suffered a major setback earlier after it was slated for June 13, 2023, it was then hurriedly postponed to Tuesday June 20 to the chagrin of a good number of the members – elect, particularly those from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

But the situation looks ominous this morning as supporters of the two main political parties and various interest groups swarmed into the complex in expectation of the inauguration which was slated to commence at 10.am but as at 12.57pm, the lawmakers were yet to commence the process of the inauguration.

Hordes of pressmen who had entered the press gallery within the complex and adjoining vantage points for the purpose of covering the event were flushed out by security operatives but were re-admitted hours later after protestations and in a manner that created a chaotic situation at the entrance door.

In the ensuing confusion, no fewer than five Android phones were stolen from people, including Mr Oriyomi Mutiu, who lost his Vivo android phone and a journalist from the Paramount FM, who lost two handsets to thieves that defied the presence of a plethora of security operatives in and outside of the Assembly complex.

The Daily Crucible gathered further that the initial postponement was predicated on the need to make rooms for more horse – trading and compromise.

The precursor to the intrigues is said to be diverging interests striving against each other on who should be the Speaker. While some lawmakers want the ex – Speaker Oluomo back in the spirit of continuity, others who are bent on having a fresh breadth, are asking for Change and they want Daisi Elemide, the lawmaker representing Odeda State Constituency, as the next Speaker.

Observers of the unfolding drama are asking: Where’s the hand of the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in this whole Game?

The question agitating their minds of many is: Will Hon. Kunle Oluomo be returned the second time as Speaker or Hon. Elemide will get it this time ?

It was learnt that the Governor has been reaching out to many quarters to make the lawmakers, at least those of them that are of the All Progressives Congress (APC) family, to speak with one voice on who becomes the Speaker of the 10th Ogun Assembly but as at 8.am this morning, it was not yet clear if he was winning or losing in the epic and intriguing game of Ogun Assembly leadership tussle.

Earlier, the members – elect on the platform of PDP had called on their counterparts from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to put their house in order by settling their differences amicably and stop shifting blames on them over tussle for the position of speaker and other principal offices.

A member of the Assembly representing Abeokuta South State Constituency 1, Hon. Lukmon Atobatele stated this in Abeokuta while distancing the PDP members from the crisis in electing a speaker and deputy speaker for the 10th Assembly.

He said, the talks that the PDP caucus was backing either ex – Speaker Kunle Oluomo or Hon. Elemide Oludaisi of the APC to become the next Speaker of Ogun House of Assembly was unfounded as they had no ulterior interest in who becomes what, being a minority group in the Assembly.

According to Atobatele, “it is in our interests to steadily monitor and master the workings of the Assembly, inline with extant rules and guidelines to be able to deliver dividends of democracy to our people and as well protect their interests.

“Obviously, we cannot dictate to the majority as a minority group. All those insinuating we would support Hon Elemide over the former speaker Oluomo are just assuming. We don’t even belong to the same political party, so how can we know their workings? Anyway all these rumours are expected”, he said.

Hon. Atobatele, who condemned the sudden shift of the inauguration date for the 10th Assembly, said the PDP Caucus was ready to work in unity for the interest of their constituents and the good people of Ogun State.

Meanwhile, former Speaker Kunle Oluomo has returned unopposed as Speaker of the 10th Ogun Assembly.