Why we impeached Ondo Speaker, Deputy – Fatai Olotu

The spokesperson of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Fatai Olotu, representing Akoko North-East state constituency at the house, has disclosed that the impeachment of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Iroju Ogundeji was due to alleged incompetence and financial misappropriation.

Olotu who spoke with DAILY POST on Thursday maintained that within the spate of six months the former leadership exhausted N1.5 billion budgetary allocation of the house meant to last one year.
He stated that the impeachment is in accordance with the law as 18 out of 26 members of the house supported their removal, which he said formed two-third majority needed and was also witnessed by the clerk of the house, Mr. Bode Adeyelu.

He said “In accordance with the rule guiding the house and by the power conferred on members of the house, the house as at today has successfully impeached the former speaker and deputy speaker.
“Immediately after their removal, Rt. Hon. Olamide George from Akure North state constituency was elected as speaker and was duly sworn in by the clerk of the house. Rt. Hon. Abimbola Fajolu representing Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo was also sworn in.
“For the avoidance of doubt, 18 members moved for their removal, that’s to say that’s two-third of the members of the house, so we’ve fulfilled that requirement.

“There are many reasons for their removal, but I want you to know that changing leadership is an inherent right of the members of the house. But this former speaker of the house has shown great incompetence. The have run the house aground financially.
“Just for an instance as at June this year, the Speaker and the deputy speaker have exhausted all budgetary allocation for the house with the knowledge of the member which is to the tune of 1.5 billion Naira.
“It’s when we stumbled on this, a budget that is supposed to run for a year they exhausted it within six months, which was already exhausted as at June this year. They never followed due process. If you have to run the finances of the house we have cash allocation committee which is their duty. It’s the parliament that must approve such monies not the sole responsibility of the speaker.
Also, Rt. Hon. Fatai Olotu who was once a former Deputy Speaker of the house has admonished the Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu not to interfere with the development.
“The speaker and the deputy are grossly incompetent in running the affairs of the house and they are in the habit of blackmailing members, because they know that their time is over.
“We have even informed the executive that we don’t want them again. But they have been telling the executive that once they are removed, the governor would be removed.
“I’ve been in the house for some time, there’s no nexus between removing the leadership of house and that of the governor. Because the governor has not committed any impeachable offence. To best of our knowledge the governor has not done anything wrong.
“You were elected by members, if the they say they no longer want you, then you comply.
“We have never seen that kind of leadership that has run the house in the manner that does not have regards for the house.
“They are lots of other things we would address the press in due course. But the house has carried out its constitutional role. We don’t have any problem with the governor; we don’t have any problem with the executive. The executive should stay out of this.
“The last time we impeached the deputy speaker, the pressure was on us. The pressure was just too much we have to reverse it. The reversal was unconstitutional, it was illegal, he stated.
Also, the new Speaker, Olamide George said that the impeachment was aimed at correcting the series of anomalies of the former principal officers.
“There are lots of undercovers going on the house and these are reasons why members have to come together and changed the leadership.
“In line with the rules of the House, two third which is eighteen members signed the impeachment of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
“So, it is a new dawn for us. We are not fighting the government. I belong to the APC and I stand with my party” he said.