The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, congratulated the state House of Assembly on “the rancour-free” process that led to the emergence of Oludaisi Elemide as the new Speaker of the Assembly following last week Tuesday’s impeachment of Olakunle Oluomo by 18 lawmakers.
The governor, 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 visit to the governor at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Speaking through the deputy governor, Abiodun 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 making 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 said the executive arm would continue to adhere strictly to the concept of separation of powers and the rule of law in its relationship with the House of Assembly.
In his remarks, the new Speaker, Elemide, said the House would continue to complement the executive and avoid the unnecessary mudslinging that could 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 the 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 said.
Earlier, the Assembly had ratified Oluomo’s impeachment as all 22 member’s present at plenary voted in support of the ouster.
At the plenary presided over by the deputy speaker, Bolanle Ajayi, the lawmaker representing Ado-Odo/Ota II, Musefiu Lamidi, 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 witch-hunt mission, but for fair hearing on allegations levelled against him.
“The Speaker said some of the committee members do not have the right to be a members 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 regards 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,” Lamidi said.
He said the committee found Oluomo 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 and it was seconded by Oluseun Adesanya.
“With the majority vote of 22 members, I hereby confirmed that Oluomo stand impeached and removed as the Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly,” the deputy speaker declared.
