Ogun Assembly swears in Elemide as new Speaker, affirms Oluomo’s impeachment
The Ogun State House of Assembly has sworn in Oludaisi Elemide, as the new Speaker of the House on Tuesday.
Elemide representing Odeda State Constituency, is a third-time lawmaker in the Assembly.
Elemide’s emergence followed the impeachment of Olakunle Oluomo, as the Speaker of the Assembly.
Newsmen gathered that as of Tuesday morning, 25 out of 26 members of the state Assembly had signed the impeachment notice of Oluomo on allegations of high-handedness; lack of focus and financial misappropriation among others.
At the plenary, the Assembly ratified the impeachment of Oluomo, with 22 members present, voting in support of the impeachment.
The report of a committee set up by the House to investigate Oluomo was read by Musefiu Lamidi at a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Bolanle Ajayi.
Lamidi explained that the committee made it clear to the former Speaker that it was not on a witch-hunting mission but for a fair hearing on allegations levelled against him.
Lamidi said, “The speaker said some of the committee members do not have the right to be a member of the committee to investigate him since they were among the 18 members who originally signed the impeachment notice.
“Having observed that the committee turned down his request, he walked out on the committee to avoid responding to further questions from the committee.
“The committee observed that the attitude of the speaker shows that he has no regard for the committee and by extension the House of Assembly.
“His attitude is a clear admittance of the allegations contained in the impeachment notice served on him which includes financial impropriety, high handedness and lack of focus among others,” he said.
Lamidi, however, said that the committee found him guilty of all allegations levelled against him and consequently recommended that he should be impeached.
He later moved the motion for the adoption of the report which was seconded by Oluseun Adesanya, representing Ijebu North East State Constituency.
The Deputy Speaker threw the resolution back to the House and the 22 members in attendance affirmed the removal of Oluomo as the speaker through the majority vote.
“With the majority vote of 22 members, I hereby confirm that Oluomo stands impeached and removed as the speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly,” he said. the
Reacting to the development, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, congratulated the new Speaker and other lawmakers for ensuring a rancour-free transition process.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele spoke when she received 19 members of the House who accompanied the new speaker on a courtesy call to her office.
He commended the seamless manner in which they elected the new speaker, reaffirming that the lawmakers have the right to decide who would lead them in a democracy.
“You have gone through the process in a way that is exemplary. This is not the first time in this country that members of a particular legislature have decided to change their leader.”
He emphasised that the executive arm will continue to adhere strictly to the concept of Separation of Power and the rule of law in its relationship with the House of Assembly.
