Abeokuta – Eighteen lawmakers have removed Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Kunle Oluomo..
It was learnt that 18 out of the 26 –26–members removed Oluomo who is representing the Ifo 1 State Constituency.
It was learnt on Tuesday that Daisi Elemide, a member representing Odeda constituency has been elected to replace Oluomo.
Mr. Adegoke Adeyanju (APC-Yewa North 1), moved the motion for the speaker’s impeachment while it was seconded by Mr. Ademola Adeniran (APC-Sagamu11)
It was also gathered that the plan to remove him dates back to September 2023 but the lawmakers kept managing and tolerating Oluomo because of the repeated intervention of Governor Dapo Abiodun and Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
The lawmakers also wanted to remove him for about 10 days but decided to postpone it until the Governor’s pending case at the Supreme Court was concluded.
They reckoned that should Oluomo be removed while the election petition cases were still pending, it would send a wrong signal to Ogun State Indigenes and residents that someone was sponsoring them.
The 18 lawmakers also factored the 2024 Appropriation Bill into the game, not willing to effect Assembly leadership change before now lest it hurts the smooth presentation of the budget by the Governor and its passage by the house.
With the election matters over and the budget passed and signed into law, the cost was clear for the lawmakers to strike, they struck on Tuesday, January 23, and removed him as his Speaker of the House.
Kunle Oluomo (APC-Ifo1) was Impeached by 18 lawmakers out of 21 member assembly on Tuesday, during a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Bolanle Ajayi (APC-Yewa South).
Mr Adegoke Adeyanju (APC-Yewa North 1), moved the motion for the speaker’s impeachment while it was seconded by Mr. Ademola Adeniran (APC-Sagamu11).
Speaking to newsmen after being elected as the new speaker, Elemide explained that the people of the state should expect the best from him.
He said, “We are law-abiding legislators. We want the world to know that there has been a change in leadership.
” 18 members signed for me to be the speaker. People should remain calm. We are in the custody of all the authorities of the house. We are saying that the new leadership will support the governor.
” The governor does not know anything about this impeachment.”
Also speaking, Mr Damilola Soneye (APC-Obafemi Owode), noted that the office of the speaker is to be first among equals.
“The speaker was impeached due to gross misconduct which bothers on high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves,” he said.
A GLANCE AT FORMER SPEAKERS’ OFFENCES
1. FINANCIAL MISAPROPRIATION.
Embezzlement of quarters renovation fund
Nondisclosure of House of Assembly finances.
Embezzlement of monthly Seminar/Training fund.
Embezzlement of philanthropic gestures extended to the house e.g Yayi, Owodunni e.t.c
Spending House funds on personal travels without the consent/approval of the House.
2. INCITING HONORABLE MEMBERS AGAINST THEMSELVES.
Creating conflicts and fanning embers of discord between the legislative and executive arms of government.
Using foul language against the honorable members.
3. HIGHHANDEDNESS
Forcing his opinion on Honorable members.
.
4. LACK OF FOCUS AND TRANSPARENCY
Obstructing and restricting Honorable members from performing their legislative duties.
5. ARROGANCE AND POOR LEADERSHIP
• Flagrance is disobedient to the court of law and collective decisions of the house.
Not a team player
