Ogun Assembly: Gov Abiodun breaks silence, says lawmakers have right to choose leader

48 hours after the change of leadership in the Ogun State House of Assembly, Governor Dapo Abiodun has broken his silence on the crisis rocking the state’s legislative body.

The crisis in the Assembly consumed the former Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, on Tuesday, as he was impeached and replaced by Oludaisi Elemide.

Reacting to the development, the governor agreed with the Assembly that the legislators reserve the right to choose whoever pleases them as their leader in the legislative arm of the government.

Speaking through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Akinmade, on Thursday, the governor also acknowledged that the crisis in the Assembly had lasted for a while.

“There had been internal wrangling in the Assembly that had persisted and degenerated despite several interventions.

“ It is the prerogative of members of the House of Assembly to choose their leadership in line with the constitution and the law guiding the conduct of the Assembly.”

It will be recalled that the former Speaker was impeached on Tuesday after he was accused of high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance, poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves.

The governor, however, added that the government was working with the party, All Progressives Congress, APC, with the intention to resolve all contending issues.

The statement added, “Working with the leadership of our Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Government intends to see all the contending issues resolved in a democratic, fair, and just manner.

“The Ogun State Government notes that the Honourable Members have openly stated that their grouse is not with the Governor, whom they again pledged their loyalty to.

“Given that the Ogun electorate gave us a mandate to represent their best interests and deliver democratic dividends that will significantly improve their well-being, the Ogun State Government, along with the Party leadership, have intervened to ensure that whatever disagreement members have is resolved peacefully and amicably, so that the delivery of democratic dividends to our people will not be hampered in any way.”