Ekiti Assembly In Disarray Over Alleged Plot To Sack Leaders The Ekiti State House of Assembly is in disarray over alleged plot by lawmakers to impeach the speaker, Hon Adewale Omirin, and other principal officers of the House. Others, who could be affected in the new power game, include the deputy speaker, Hon Taiwo Orisalade, the majority leader, Hon Churchill Adedipe, the chief whip, Hon Ade Ajayi, and other principal officers. The 26-member House comprises 25 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers and only one Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) member, following the defection of Hon Bunmi Oriniowo to APC shortly before the June 21 governorship election. A source close to the assembly confided in LEADERSHIP Sunday in Ado Ekiti on Saturday that those rooting for the removal of the speaker were mostly lawmakers representing constituencies that fall within Ekiti North senatorial district, comprising Ikole, Ilejemeje, Moba, Ido/Osi and Oye local government areas of the state. The move, according to the source, which might not be unconnected with the imminent change of government in the state, as Governor Kayode Fayemi’s tenure expires on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, was targeted at balancing the political equation when the governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose is sworn-in. Responding, the speaker, who denied the rumoured leadership crisis in the House, said the lawmakers were united and remained committed to the development of the state. Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, Omirin said the rumour is just the figment of imaginations of those peddling it, noting that the unity among members is something of pride to members and Ekiti people in general. The source said the incumbent governor is from North, his Deputy, Prof Modupe Adelabu from the Central, while the speaker, is from the South Senatorial District. The source further hinted that the political equation in the state would change with the emergence of Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who is from the Central and his deputy, Dr. Olusola Eleka , who hails from the South, the same senatorial district with Hon Omirin, which forms part of the reasons to move for his ouster, coupled with external interference. Another reason adduced by the source for the change of leadership is the fact that the lawmakers had recently lamented during a visit to a national leader of the party in Lagos, expressing disgust at how Fayemi had allegedly treated them in the last three and a half years wing to weak leadership in the house. The source said the lawmakers later resorted to the new tactice when they returned to Ekiti as they see the speaker’s removal as the best way to get at the Governor. The source said: “The Speaker may be removed anytime from now except he could play a fast game. Some APC lawmakers are bent on removing him at all cost, not only to balance the political equation, but to punish him for the sins he had committed under Governor Fayemi. “Some of them were of the opinion that Hon Omirin was imposed on them by the Governor. Aside this, they believed he was too loyal and timid to confront Governor Fayemi on various issues which had not been in the overall interest of members, particularly in the area of finance. Rattled by the lawmakers’ desperate move, the leaders of the party last Friday held a truce meeting with the aggrieved legislators up to midnight to sheathe their sword, a development the source described as fruitful. “The lawmakers are not happy that they could not make enough money under Fayemi because of the speaker’s docility. So, the time to take their pound of flesh is now and only God can save. him,” he stated. The Speaker said, “We have been working harmoniously together in this Honourable House with the spirit of disciplined party men and women for more than three years. We have made ourselves, our people and the state in general proud in the way we have conducted ourselves. This House is the most productive of all the Houses of Assembly in the country. Instead of engaging in what will distort that record and rubbish our integrity, the honourable members are aware of their place in history and so would not engage in any rancour that will rubbish their sterling performance over the years,” Omirin said.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 10:31:13 +0000
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