Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Ondo State House of Assembly, yesterday, impeached its Deputy Speaker, Ogundeji Iroju and elected Abimbola Fajoluto to replace him.
Iroju, who represents Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo state constituency, was, until his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Iroju was one of the lawmakers, who defected to the APC shortly after the emergence of Rotimi Akeredolu as the state’s governor.
The former deputy speaker also played active roles in the impeachment of the former speaker, Mrs Jumoke Akindele.
He was the leader of the lawmakers who plotted the impeachment of Akindele; and, at various times, represented the group, and addressed press conferences, both in and outside the state.
Also, Iroju led the group of lawmakers who sat in Ibadan, Oyo State, where the suspension of Akindele was announced before her impeachment at the chambers of the House of Assembly in Akure.
At yesterday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, David Oloyelogun, 18 out of the 26 lawmakers signed the impeachment of Iroju.
The lawmakers alleged that the former deputy speaker did not co-operate with the speaker and, often, worked in variance with the decision of the leadership of the House.
The lawmaker representing Akoko North East State Constituency, Fatai Olotu, who moved the motion for the impeachment of Iroju, said frosty relationship between the speaker and his deputy was not in the interest of the House.
Olotu said: “The office of the speaker is an exalted one which must be respected, hence, any individual who does not co-operate with him is not fit to serve as his deputy.”
Seconding the motion, the lawmaker representing Akure South 11 state constituency, Olajide Sunday, said the 18 lawmakers, who signed the impeachment notice were convinced that by working at cross purposes with the speaker, the deputy would not bring the desired democratic dividends to the people.
The speaker, while making his position known, called for a voice vote and members were unanimous in their call for the impeachment of Iroju.
Thereafter, Abimbola Fajolu, representing Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo state constituency was nominated as deputy speaker to replace Iroju. And he was subsequently sworn in.
