I never worked against bill on installation, burial rites of traditional rulers — Ex-Deputy Speaker

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Former deputy speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oluwadare Kadiri, has denied being the brain behind the truncation of a bill on the Burial Rites for Traditional Rulers from being passed into law by the House.

Kadiri, who is representing Ijebu North State Constituency 1 at the assembly said he was not part of the committee on the Burial Rites Bill sponsored by the Ijebu Traditional Council, and wondered why he would be linked to the truncation of the bill.

The lawmaker made this known while speaking at the second year anniversary of the 9th Legislature, held at the hallowed chamber of the Assembly.

He explained that coming out to deny the “baseless allegation” on the floor of the House had become necessary in order to clear his name and ensure it was in the record of the House that he refuted the allegation.

He noted that as a true son of Ijebuland, he could not involve himself in any activities capable of frustrating efforts aimed at bringing sanity, development and progress to his constituency.

The lawmaker added that he was at no time, even as the deputy speaker, attempted to interfere in the affair or influence the committee saddled with the task to work on the bill seeking to allow traditional rulers to be buried according to their religious beliefs.

Kadiri, however, expressed disappointment over what he described as a “calculated campaign” by some of his colleagues to paint him in a bad light before the traditional rulers in Ijebuland, especially the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

He added that he was shocked when the Ebumawe of his hometown of Ago Iwoye, summoned him and confronted him with the allegation that he was blocking the bill from being passed by the House of Assembly.

The lawmaker said though he had since put the saga of his impeachment as the deputy speaker behind him, he would not sit idly and allow unfounded allegation to truncate the support of the revered monarchs he had enjoyed for six years as a lawmaker.

Kadiri, however, used the event to appeal to the state government to recommence work on the Ilishan-Ago Iwoye Road.

He also called for the rehabilitation of Ago Iwoye township roads, which according to him, are in a “sorry state.”