Ondo: Inside story of State Assembly crisis

There have been plans to change the leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly through the removal of the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyeloogun and his deputy, Mr Iroju Ogundeji, for nearly a year now.

The constant intervention of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu each time the lawmakers make a move to push aside the duo and elect new leaders, kept Oleyeloogun and Ogundeji on their seat till last Friday when they were finally sacked by 18 lawmakers to pave way for new leaders, The Nation can now reveal.

The plot that culminated in their impeachment on Friday, The Nation gathered, was hatched few weeks back but kept away from the knowledge of Governor Akeredolu, for fear that he would, as usual, meddle in the affairs of the legislature, to save the jobs of the then Speaker and his deputy. But when Oleyeloogun and Ogundeji learnt of the plot early in the week, they hurriedly adjourned the House indefinitely.

Asides the issues of gross misconduct and financial impropriety raised against the duo during the impeachment proceedings, our correspondent gathered that the raging political battle between some leaders of the party on one hand and Governor Akeredolu on the other, played is another reason why Oleyeloogun and Ogundeji lost their positions.

The Nation, November 11, 2018

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