Meanwhile, Fayose has said he may not honour an invitation to attend Fayemi’s inauguration; because of the erratic nature of politicians.
Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti
Ekiti Ahead of Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s inauguration as Ekiti State governor, there is crisis in the House of Assembly.
READ ALSO: Fayemi: God will judge Fayose
Yesterday, Speaker, Kolawole Oluwole, and his deputy, Sina Animasaun, were removed by their colleagues. In their stead, Ebenezer Alagbada, representing Ise/Orun constituency was elected as the new speaker.
The Assembly also reinstated the former deputy speaker, Segun Adewumi to his former position.
Gboyega Aribisogan, former minority leader, was elected the new leader of Business.
The lawmakers, made up of three All Progressives Congress (APC) and 11 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, suspended other 12 lawmakers for 125 legislative days.
Those suspended were Oluwawole, Animasahun, Omotoso Samuel, Wale Onigiobi , Wale Ayeni, Dare Pelem, Jeje Samuel, Akinleye Dayo, Fajemilehin Ayodele, Fasanmin Temitope, Tunji Akinyele and Sanya Aladeyelu.
At the sitting, Sunday Akinniyi of the APC was elected minority leader, Fajana Ojo-Ade (deputy leader), Cecilia Dada (chief whip) and Musa Arogundade (deputy chief whip).
Addressing newsmen after plenary, Aribisogan said Oluwawole and other PDP lawmakers were suspended over alleged complicity in the disappearance of N60 million in the House.
He said they were also suspended for ineptitude.
Aribisogan also alleged that the Assembly, under Oluwawole, was poorly funded, became practically subservient to the executive and the speakership position was hijacked by powerful members, due to their closeness to the governor. He also accused the former speaker of betraying Ekiti populace by holding a secret plenary last month with other suspended members to approve N10 billion supplementary budget sent by Governor Ayodele Fayose. The new speaker, Alagbada, in his acceptance speech, appreciated the members for their confidence in him, saying he won’t betray the confidence and the trust.
READ ALSO: Fayose threatens to dump PDP over Tambuwal’s defeat
But Oluwawole has described his purported impeachment as a rape on democracy and descent to lowest level of lawlessness and illegality.
“This is bizarre. This is the height of illegality and it can never stand. As the speaker of the House, I supervised over the last adjournment of the House, which was carried out according to laws and laid down rules.
“I retain the power to reconvene the House and I have not done that yet. How then can some people say the House sat? This is totally illegal. The role of the police in this siege is clear. It was enemies of democracy that purported the House sat. Ekiti State House of Assembly has not been reconvened by its speaker,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fayose has said he may not honour an invitation to attend Fayemi’s inauguration; because of the erratic nature of politicians.
The governor added that he had promised to appear at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 16, which he said coincided with day of the swearing in.
READ ALSO: Alleged fraud by Oshiomhole: Court orders service of summons on EFCC
The governor also advised that whoever emerges speaker should work for the progress of the state
