Mimiko fails to present 2017 budget as protesters storm Ondo Assembly

Following the confusion that ensued after protesters stormed Ondo State House of Assembly on Wednesday, outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko was unable to present his 2017 Budget to the Assembly members scheduled for the day.

The current leadership crisis rocking the House of Assembly stated when some members of the announced the impeachment of Jumoke Akindele as Speaker and enthroning Malachi Coker as acting Speaker.

The deposed Speaker has refused to accept defeat as she is still laying claim to the seat.

Akindele, her deputy, Fatai Olotu and Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu were also removed by a group loyal to the acting Speaker. The crisis that followed that action had security operatives on Monday sealing off the Assembly complex.

But the complex was said to have been reopened on Wednesday following Mimiko’s announcement that he would be presenting his administration’s last budget.

While thirteen lawmakers loyal to Coker were said to have arrived at the Assembly at 7.30 am and began plenary at 8.am, confusion however ensued at the main entrance when armed policemen and other security operatives started firing teargas to disperse a protesting crowd at the entrance of the Assembly complex.

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The leader of the protesters, Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, who made known what their anger was, said that governor Mimiko should leave the state peacefully and not present a budget he would be the one to implement.

While Coker and his camp adjourned till 12pm, but reconvened again about 3pm, they finally decided to adjourn till Thursday when they were informed that the governor was no longer going to come.

Governor Mimiko, whose party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the last governorship election in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC), will be handing over power to Rotimi Akeredolu, the winner of the election on February 27.

 

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