Ondo Assembly crisis deepens as spokesperson labels Speaker ‘dictator,’ demands resignation

The Spokesman for the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olatunji Ifabiyi, has explained that members of the Assembly called for the resignation of the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, over alleged dictatorial leadership style.

Mr Ifabiyi, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Akure, said that 21 of the 26 members of the Assembly had signed a notice giving the Speaker an ultimatum to resign or face impeachment.

The spokesman alleged that the Speaker submitted a resolution of reordering the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to the state executive without the knowledge of other members.

Mr Ifabiyi cited the speaker’s “dictatorial” and “undemocratic” practices as the primary reasons for the action of the lawmakers.

“There is budget rendering which does not emanate from the House of the Assembly, and the Speaker on his own did it without the consent of other members which is against the law.

“It is a criminal offence. We cannot continue on this way.

“We have resolved that he should go, and 21 of us have signed this resolution. But with the wisdom of the Assembly, we have asked him to resign or he will be impeached.

“He should stop lying that somebody is sponsoring us. The truth of the matter is that the members are fed up with Mr Speaker’s leadership style, and he should go.

“He should allow the House of the Assembly to breathe,” he stated.

According to him, the speaker has failed in his responsibility to carry others along in the affairs of the parliament.

Mr Oladiji, however, denied the allegation, describing it as false and politically motivated.
NAN