Impeachment rumour: Tension in Oyo •We have issues with Speaker —APC lawmaker
THERE was palpable tension in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday, as rumour filtered through into town that 24 members of the Oyo State House of Assembly had served impeachment notice on the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
The rumour almost became rife as heavy security presence was noticed in specific areas in Ibadan, the state capital, especially around the Secretariat area, where the state assembly complex was situated.
People in the state credited their sources to social media network and said breaking news aired on a private television station based in Lagos.
It was alleged that 24 lawmakers had signed the impeachment notice to be served on the governor and that the symbol of the House, the Mace, had been taken into the custody of the ’24 lawmakers’ believed to have been working on the project.
As soon as the news filtered to town, people started making contacts to confirm the information, especially when the House is on recess and billed to resume on August 28, 2014.
As at Wednesday morning, both the speaker and the governor were not around in the state.
But the Chairman, Parliamentary Caucus, Honourable Fatai Salam, while addressing newsmen at the Conference Hall of the Assembly complex debunked the rumour.
Flanked by 10 members of the seventh Assembly, Honourable Salam said there had not been any allegation of misconduct against the governor that can warrant notice of impeachment.
He added that the House is on recess, expected to resume August 28.
According to him, “the seventh Assembly, since inception, has been enjoying good relationship with each other and has no plan to disrupt the existing peace in the state.
When contacted on the heavy presence of security personnel around major spots in Ibadan, the image maker, Oyo State Police Command, SP Olabisi Ilobanafor, said there has been presence of police on the streets before now, adding that “it is one of the routine of security agents to protect the lives of the residents.”
We have issues with Oyo Speaker —APC lawmakerDare Adekanmbi
A lawmaker of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Oyo State House of Assembly has opened up on the bickering in the House.
The lawmaker, representing one of the constituencies in Ibadan, told the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday that there was no plan to impeach Governor Abiola Ajimobi but that they had issues with the Speaker, Right Honourable Monsurat Sunmonu.
He spoke against the background of a report that 24 lawmakers have endorsed impeachment notices against the governor and the Speaker.
The lawmaker, who does not want to be named yet, said “You can quote me. The problem of Oyo State House of Assembly is Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu.
“As far as the Oyo State House of Assembly is concerned, there is no impeachment plan against the governor. The governor is a man of the people; he is a performer and up to expectation.
“The 18 lawmakers in the APC caucus in the House are solidly behind him and I can vouch 100 per cent that we are for the governor. Any impeachment notice must be backed by two-thirds of the House and we are behind the governor.
Asked if the APC lawmakers were behind the Speaker, he said “I don’t want to say whether anybody is behind the Speaker or not but I want to be quoted that the problem of Oyo State House of Assembly is Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu.
“We the 18 APC caucus in the House will make our colleagues in the opposition see reason why they should not rock the boat in any way. We believe the boat cannot even be rocked because it is standing upon the foundation of God.
“We are aware they (the opposition lawmakers) have been meeting and strategising. We are aware they are expressing some grievances. But we believe the grievances are issues that the governor will resolve. “
