Ondo Assembly reverses impeachment of speaker, deputy

Approves 2016 Budget

The Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday reversed the impeachment of the speaker and deputy speaker of the Assembly carried out on Tuesday night by some lawmakers.

The action came on the heels of the intervention by the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Assembly had removed the speaker, Jumoke Akindele, her deputy, Fatai Olotu and Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu at a sitting on Tuesday night. The motion was allegedly supported by 18 lawmakers over irreconcilable differences bothering on their welfare.

Essentially, the allegations against the leadership of the Assembly bothered on “incompetence, highhandedness, and lack of focus, arrogance and poor leadership.”

But after the intervention of the governor, the lawmakers resolved to allow peace to reign. They also reversed the impeachment of their leaders.

Addressing newsmen on the latest development, the chairman of the Assembly’s Information Committee, Olamide George in the company of the member representing Ondo East Constituency, Akindiose Olusiji said the political differences which led to the impeachment of the leaders has been resolved.

George and Akindiose, who were among the 14 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members that signed the Notice of Impeachment on Tuesday night, said the incident was a mere disagreement which has been amicably resolved.

According to George, “On Tuesday March 8, 2016, a sizeable number of Ondo State House of Assembly met on some burning issues, touching on the leadership of the House.

“Before plenary session today, Wednesday March 9, 2016 members, at a larger and official gathering met to review the situation and consequently resolved to allow the status quo ante on the leadership of Ondo State House of Assembly as at 7th March 2016 to remain.”

“The House of Assembly remains united, cohesive and alive to its constitutional responsibilities. The issue of leadership of the

House is an internal affairs and has been treated as such.”

Meanwhile, the Assembly presided over by Akindele yesterday approved the state’s 2016 budget comprising of N68, 000, 000, 000.00 recurrent expenditure and N50, 990, 000, 000.00 capital expenditure.