Ondo Speaker seeks Buhari, NASS intervention in Assembly crisis

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide George,  on Sunday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly ( NASS) to intervene in the crisis currently rocking the state assembly.

The speaker made the appeal at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that members, staff and some journalists at the Ondo tate House of Assembly were attacked by thugs on Nov. 9.

This was because of the impeachment of the former speaker and his deputy, Bamidele Oloyelogun and Ogundeji Iroju.

The impeachment led to fracas in the house and its subsequent invasion by thugs.

Consequently, the action led to the arrest of the Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the NURTW, Jacob Adebo, a.k.a. Idajo.

The arrest was effected  by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Force CID, Alagbon in Ikoyi, Lagos State on the orders of the IG.

He was arrested for allegedly masterminding the attack on the assembly  which led to many of the lawmakers sustaining injuries of varying degrees.

The speaker said that the call for the intervention was to allow  peace to  reign and for  democracy to be  sustained in the state.

“We have met  twice with the  Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and  Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State  was present during  one of the meetings which ended in a  deadlock.

“We have also written to the NASS and the IG on this matter as our lives have continued to be threatened over this matter.

“The house met the constitutional requirement when 18 out of  its 26 members  signed the impeachment notice.

” This was passed against the former speaker and his deputy for gross misconduct and other offences.

“That same day,  the house was invaded. Three of us are still in hospital while some of us that sustained minor injuries are still being threatened,” he said.

He urged the President and the National Assembly to save the state from sinking because of the crisis.

The speaker explained that the impeachment of the former speaker was not sponsored or motivated by any South West leader as being alleged by some people.

“We are not sponsored. We removed them because they were not competent in handling the affairs of the house and we had the required legal stipulation to do so.

“If they feel the house had  erred, they should go to court to seek redress which is the proper thing to do rather than resorting to violence and threats,” he said.

Also speaking, the Majority Leader of the house, Hon. Araoyinbo Olugbenga, appealed to the IG to provide police protection for them.

“We need police protection for ourselves and iou family members as we have continued to receive death threats.

“We remain convinced that we are on the good side of history in this quest to bring sanity and independence to the legislative arm of government in our state.

“And we are reiterating our readiness and preparedness to resume our duties in this new week,” he said.(NAN)