•Hon. Daisi Elemide
The protracted simmering crisis at the Ogun State House of Assembly which eventually burst like a broken dam on Tuesday, January 23, sweeping Hon. Kunle Oluomo away as the leader and Speaker of the 26 – member legislative arm in its wake, is not yet over.
Hon. Oludaisi Elemide has assumed duty as the Speaker of the house but it is not yet uhuru for the Assembly on the inchoate watch of the lawmaker representing Odeda State Constituency as the new Leadership.
The Daily Crucible can confirm that there is a spirited move coming from many quarters, including the Governor Dapo Abiodun – led Ogun state government, to reinstate Hon. Kunle Oluomo, who was removed from office by 18 of his colleagues.
It was learnt that they are mounting pressure on Hon. Elemide to vacate his new position to pave way for the return of Oluomo even as more prominent personalities have also been conscripted to prevail on the new Speaker and other lawmakers to reverse themselves on the impeached Oluomo, source close to Ogun Assembly legislators told our reporter on Thursday night.
Efforts repeatedly meeting brick walls
However, it was gathered that the lawmakers remained unyielding, saying “Oluomo is sacked and gone for good. He is not coming back as a Speaker again,” the source said.
The source also added that the Governor and some of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders met with the lawmakers after the impeachment process had been concluded, seeking Oluomo’s restoration to his Speakership seat but the impeached Speaker’s colleagues politely rejected it.
The source revealed that the Governor is palpably concerned that if early in the day nobody could steer the ‘unyielding lawmakers’ out of their chosen path, would that not also portend an ominous sign of the type of ‘Executive – Legislative relationship’ that lies ahead on the watch of Hon. Elemide as the Speaker?
The Daily Crucible further gathered that the Governor’s worries were, however, assuaged after extracting words of assurance and commitment from the lawmakers that the ‘new Ogun Assembly’ will not pursue any action that could disrupt his “Iseya agenda” for the state.
In return, the lawmakers it was learnt, could also hold on to their resolve not to restore Oluomo as Speaker but to find a soft – landing for him which among other things, include converting the impeachment to subsequently read as “Resignation.”
It is not clear as at the time of filing the report if this arrangement sits well with the former Speaker Oluomo as efforts to make the lawmakers yield better grounds to him still remain unrelenting as at Friday, January 26.
Also, efforts made to reach the embattled Oluomo for comments since the drama unfolded have not been fruitful.
The Daily Crucible had earlier reported that there seemed to be efforts being made to restore the impeached Speaker.
Indication to that effect emanated from some quarters, including the state government, Governor Dapo Abiodun and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in the state.
The Government is treating the impeachment as an “alleged” action carried out by the 18 lawmakers, suggesting that in its reckoning, it is an allegation and not a proven fact yet.
According to Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, the Government is looking at all the contending issues with a view to resolving them in a democratic, fair, and just manner.
Many are interpreting this to mean move by Dapo Abiodun – led government to prevail on the lawmakers to reinstate Oluomo in office as Speaker
Aminmade in release states, “The Government of Ogun State has keenly taken note of the events on the floor of the Ogun State House of Assembly on Tuesday regarding the alleged impeachment of the Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Olakunle Oluomo, by members of the legislative arm during a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Bolanle Ajayi.
Working with the leadership of our Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Government intends to see all the contending issues resolved in a democratic, fair, and just manner.
There had been internal wrangling in the Assembly that had persisted and degenerated despite several interventions.
The Ogun State Government notes that the Honourable Members have openly stated that their grouse is not with the Governor, whom they again pledged their loyalty to.
It is the prerogative of members of the House of Assembly to chose their leadership in line with the constitution and the law guiding the conduct of the Assembly.
Given that the Ogun electorate gave us a mandate to represent their best interests and deliver democratic dividends that will significantly improve their well-being, the Ogun State Government, along with the Party leadership, have intervened to ensure that whatever disagreement members have is resolved peacefully and amicably, so that the delivery of democratic dividends to our people will not be hampered in any way.
The Ogun State Government considers all members of the House of Assembly as partners in the Building our Future agenda and will always prioritise issues that affect them.”
