Abiodun congratulates new Ogun Speaker, Elemide

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated the new Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, and other lawmakers for ensuring a rancour-free process.

The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, spoke when he received 19 members of the House who accompanied the new Speaker on a courtesy call on him on Tuesday in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He commended the seamless manner in which they elected the new Speaker, reaffirming that the lawmakers have the right to decide who would lead them in democratic settings.

He said, “It is worthy of note that the executive has not interfered in the process to make sure that you are comfortable in what you want to do, that led you to make your decision. And we support you in the decision that you make.

“You have gone through the process in a way that is exemplary. This is not the first time in this country that members of a particular legislature have decided to change their leader.”

He emphasized that the executive arm will continue to adhere strictly to the concept of separation of power and the rule of law in its relationship with the House of Assembly.

The governor pledged that his administration would support and work closely with the legislature to maintain the harmonious relationship that has existed in the last four and a half years.

The new Speaker, Elemide said the House would continue to compliment the executive and avoid the unnecessary mudslinging that may hinder the progress of the state.

“We are not going to fight, and neither are we going to compromise the executive. In the legislature, there is room for lobbying. We will lobby where we need to lobby, we will assert where we need to assert, and we will let the whole people of the State know that we are there for them.

“To my colleagues, I would not want to betray their confidence that they have in me. It is going to be we and not I. I am just the first among equals, and we were voted in from our various constituencies. I will take cognisant that we are equal.

“I will be there to speak for them, and I will speak whatever they put in my mouth,” Elemide concluded

Earlier, the Assembly had on Tuesday ratified the impeachment of Olakunle Oluomo as the Speaker with all 22 members present at plenary voting in support of the impeachment.

At the plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Bolanle Ajayi, Hon Musefiu Lamidi, representing Ado-Odo/Ota II read the report of the committee set up by the House on Monday to investigate the allegations levelled against Oluomo.

Lamidi noted that the committee made it clear to the former speaker that the committee was not on a witch-hunting mission but for a fair hearing on allegations levelled against him.

“The speaker said some of the committee members does not have the right to be a member of the committee to investigate him since they were among the 18 members who originally signed the impeachment notice.

“Having observed that the committee turned down his request, he walked out on the committee to avoid responding to further questions from the committee.

“The committee observed that the attitude of the speaker shows that he has no regard for the committee and by extension the House of Assembly.

” His attitude is a clear admittance of the allegations contained in the impeachment notice served on him which includes financial impropriety, high handedness and lack of focus among others,” he said.

Lamidi, however, said that the committee found him guilty of all allegations levelled against him and consequently recommended that he should be impeached.

Lamidi, thereafter moved the motion for the adoption of the report which was seconded by Oluseun Adesanya

The deputy speaker threw the resolution back to the house and the 22 Members in attendance affirmed the removal of Oluomo as the speaker through the majority vote.

“With the majority vote of 22 members, I hereby confirm that Oluomo stand Impeached and removed as the speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly,” she said.

A House Member, Adegoke Adeyanju, popularly called Awoso, representing Yewa North 1, thereafter, nominated Oludaisi Elemide, an APC lawmaker representing Odeda as the new speaker and seconded by Adeniran Ademola representing Sagamu II.

Elemide took Oath of Office and was officially sworn in to replace the impeached Speaker on Tuesday.

The new Speaker, Elemide promised all-inclusive leadership, urging the members to see themselves as one and work in unity for the progress of the state.

The deputy speaker had read a letter of impeachment notice served Oluomo which was signed by 25 members out of the 26 House of Assembly members.