Ekiti PDP lawmakers should be tried for felony– Odu
Ayodeji Odu is the
representative of Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency II in the Ekiti State House of Assembly and Chairman, Judiciary and Legal Matters
Committee, Mr. Ayodeji Odu, speaks about the impasse in the Assembly
representative of Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency II in the Ekiti State House of Assembly and Chairman, Judiciary and Legal Matters
Committee, Mr. Ayodeji Odu, speaks about the impasse in the Assembly
What’s your view on the suspension of the 19
All Progressives Congress legislators by the seven Peoples Democratic Party legislators?
All Progressives Congress legislators by the seven Peoples Democratic Party legislators?
The seven suspended members cannot form a
quorum in a 26-member Ekiti State House of Assembly. Section 101 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) allows
the House of Assembly to regulate its proceedings and, having passed a motion to that effect, can relocate to any public building since
the ‘maximum ruler’ in Ekiti State has decided to
join the seven members in mobilising the security
apparatus of the state and political thugs against the majority of the legislators. Go to the Assembly premises, you will see over 50 armed
thugs, whose main assignment is to kill or maim
any of the 19 APC legislators sighted within the
complex. We are perfectly justified to relocate
with our symbol of authority to any public
institution within the state capital to conduct our
sittings and we shall continue to do that. In a
sane society, the seven suspended PDP
lawmakers and their accomplices ought to be on
trial for treasonable felony.
quorum in a 26-member Ekiti State House of Assembly. Section 101 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) allows
the House of Assembly to regulate its proceedings and, having passed a motion to that effect, can relocate to any public building since
the ‘maximum ruler’ in Ekiti State has decided to
join the seven members in mobilising the security
apparatus of the state and political thugs against the majority of the legislators. Go to the Assembly premises, you will see over 50 armed
thugs, whose main assignment is to kill or maim
any of the 19 APC legislators sighted within the
complex. We are perfectly justified to relocate
with our symbol of authority to any public
institution within the state capital to conduct our
sittings and we shall continue to do that. In a
sane society, the seven suspended PDP
lawmakers and their accomplices ought to be on
trial for treasonable felony.
Why didn’t you, APC lawmakers, drag the seven
PDP lawmakers to court?
We are in court and the court has not said we should not perform our duty as legislators. If they feel aggrieved, they should go to court too. Any further sitting by the seven suspended
members will complicate the issue. I pray for God’s wisdom to prevail before it is too late. The impostor speaker, Dele Olugbemi, cannot claim to be a speaker. In fact, he does not qualify to
be a speaker.
PDP lawmakers to court?
We are in court and the court has not said we should not perform our duty as legislators. If they feel aggrieved, they should go to court too. Any further sitting by the seven suspended
members will complicate the issue. I pray for God’s wisdom to prevail before it is too late. The impostor speaker, Dele Olugbemi, cannot claim to be a speaker. In fact, he does not qualify to
be a speaker.
The PDP has said that the 19 APC lawmakers in the legislature are acting the script of the leader of your party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu?
That is not true. Tinubu never interfered even when Governor Kayode Fayemi was in the saddle. He has maintained a calm approach to the whole issue coming up in Ekiti State. For some, the fear of the Jagaban of Borgu is the beginning of wisdom. All the allegations of his
bankrolling us is balderdash. They are probably curious about how we are surviving but I state it again that some of us can still feed well despite being denied our salaries and allowances by
Fayose. I have lawyers running my legal chambers and the same applies for other members who have their primary callings. The
G19 are no stooges of anyone. No stooge would
have the ability to take the stand we have taken in Ekiti State.
That is not true. Tinubu never interfered even when Governor Kayode Fayemi was in the saddle. He has maintained a calm approach to the whole issue coming up in Ekiti State. For some, the fear of the Jagaban of Borgu is the beginning of wisdom. All the allegations of his
bankrolling us is balderdash. They are probably curious about how we are surviving but I state it again that some of us can still feed well despite being denied our salaries and allowances by
Fayose. I have lawyers running my legal chambers and the same applies for other members who have their primary callings. The
G19 are no stooges of anyone. No stooge would
have the ability to take the stand we have taken in Ekiti State.
You were alleged by Olugbemi to have turned
yourself into a bailiff by procuring and serving
court processes on the floor of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to truncate the dissolution and reconstitution of the local government
caretaker committee requested by the governor?
I don’t think it’s appropriate to refer to Joseph Dele Olugbemi as a factional Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. The term ‘factional leader’ may seem to confer some form of
legitimacy on his actions. He is an illegal speaker, a usurper, whose emergence has violated all constitutional provisions. He is an
illegality and a constitutional aberration. His type
can only emerge in a society filled with absurdities. Now coming to your question, it’s
obvious that Olugbemi does not even know what
a bailiff means and, for his proper education, he
should go and read the Sheriff and Civil Process
Law as contained in the annual volumes of the
Laws of Nigeria for proper education. What
happened on the floor of the House of Assembly
on November 17, 2014 was simple and
straightforward enough for a primary school pupil
to understand.
A writ of summons in which the House and the
Speaker were joined as parties was served on
the House of Assembly and received by the Clerk
of the House. It was directed to me for my
attention as the Chairman of the Judiciary and
Legal Matters Committee of the Assembly by
Speaker Adewale Omirin. Copies of the
originating processes were made and served to
all members. I was not even involved in the
copying process. I received my own copy just
like other members did.
When the plenary session resumed and the issue
came up for discussion, I raised a point of order
in accordance with the relevant rules of the
House and informed the Assembly of the pending
matter in court and that since the matter is sub
judice, we have to postpone deliberations on the
request. The Speaker gave adequate opportunity
to all members who wished to contribute to do
so. Olugbemi, with the little knowledge of English
Language at his disposal made his contributions,
and at the end, the House ruled that since the
matter was in court we have to postpone
deliberations on the request. I could remember
the Speaker making a closing remark that he
does not have constitutional immunity for
prosecution against contempt of court and must
be careful in handling the matter. The records of
the proceedings are there and can be obtained
by anybody.
yourself into a bailiff by procuring and serving
court processes on the floor of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to truncate the dissolution and reconstitution of the local government
caretaker committee requested by the governor?
I don’t think it’s appropriate to refer to Joseph Dele Olugbemi as a factional Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. The term ‘factional leader’ may seem to confer some form of
legitimacy on his actions. He is an illegal speaker, a usurper, whose emergence has violated all constitutional provisions. He is an
illegality and a constitutional aberration. His type
can only emerge in a society filled with absurdities. Now coming to your question, it’s
obvious that Olugbemi does not even know what
a bailiff means and, for his proper education, he
should go and read the Sheriff and Civil Process
Law as contained in the annual volumes of the
Laws of Nigeria for proper education. What
happened on the floor of the House of Assembly
on November 17, 2014 was simple and
straightforward enough for a primary school pupil
to understand.
A writ of summons in which the House and the
Speaker were joined as parties was served on
the House of Assembly and received by the Clerk
of the House. It was directed to me for my
attention as the Chairman of the Judiciary and
Legal Matters Committee of the Assembly by
Speaker Adewale Omirin. Copies of the
originating processes were made and served to
all members. I was not even involved in the
copying process. I received my own copy just
like other members did.
When the plenary session resumed and the issue
came up for discussion, I raised a point of order
in accordance with the relevant rules of the
House and informed the Assembly of the pending
matter in court and that since the matter is sub
judice, we have to postpone deliberations on the
request. The Speaker gave adequate opportunity
to all members who wished to contribute to do
so. Olugbemi, with the little knowledge of English
Language at his disposal made his contributions,
and at the end, the House ruled that since the
matter was in court we have to postpone
deliberations on the request. I could remember
the Speaker making a closing remark that he
does not have constitutional immunity for
prosecution against contempt of court and must
be careful in handling the matter. The records of
the proceedings are there and can be obtained
by anybody.
Why did you abandon your constitutional duties
and relocate to Lagos?
We have not and we will not abandon our constitutional duties. Firstly, that question is
borne out of the notion that a legislator’s duty is
only limited to the floor of the House of Assembly. No other member can represent my
constituency in the Assembly and I cannot represent the constituency of another person. We are in close contact with our constituencies and
very soon we will start sitting if the security agencies are ready to perform their constitutional
responsibilities without taking sides as they are
currently doing.
Did Governor Fayose abandon his
responsibilities in 2006 when he sneaked out of
the Ekiti State Government House
I believe the first law of nature is self
preservation like Governor Fayose did in 2006. If
I am your brother, will you ask me to go and confront armoured tanks, soldiers and political thugs who have been compromised with my bear
hands? Those who make peace impossible are
inviting chaos in their backyards. We do not
want a situation where another state of
emergency will be imposed on the state. For
someone who performed an ‘obituary’ for his
opponents on the day of his inauguration, I expect Governor Fayose to go to bed with his eyes closed. After all, if your enemy is dead you
don’t have anyone to fear again. The mere fact
that we are being hounded, harassed and
intimidated with armoured tanks proves that the
APC is still the party to beat in Ekiti State. We are not in Lagos. We were in Lagos to sensitise the entire world to our plight. We equally visited
and may still visit other states and agencies if
the need arises. I am sure you don’t expect us
to die in silence since all channels of communication in Ekiti have been blocked
against us. The television and radio stations in Ekiti are now involved in a monologue. They have become the official megaphones of Governor Fayose. Truth and justice have taken flight in Ekiti State.
and relocate to Lagos?
We have not and we will not abandon our constitutional duties. Firstly, that question is
borne out of the notion that a legislator’s duty is
only limited to the floor of the House of Assembly. No other member can represent my
constituency in the Assembly and I cannot represent the constituency of another person. We are in close contact with our constituencies and
very soon we will start sitting if the security agencies are ready to perform their constitutional
responsibilities without taking sides as they are
currently doing.
Did Governor Fayose abandon his
responsibilities in 2006 when he sneaked out of
the Ekiti State Government House
I believe the first law of nature is self
preservation like Governor Fayose did in 2006. If
I am your brother, will you ask me to go and confront armoured tanks, soldiers and political thugs who have been compromised with my bear
hands? Those who make peace impossible are
inviting chaos in their backyards. We do not
want a situation where another state of
emergency will be imposed on the state. For
someone who performed an ‘obituary’ for his
opponents on the day of his inauguration, I expect Governor Fayose to go to bed with his eyes closed. After all, if your enemy is dead you
don’t have anyone to fear again. The mere fact
that we are being hounded, harassed and
intimidated with armoured tanks proves that the
APC is still the party to beat in Ekiti State. We are not in Lagos. We were in Lagos to sensitise the entire world to our plight. We equally visited
and may still visit other states and agencies if
the need arises. I am sure you don’t expect us
to die in silence since all channels of communication in Ekiti have been blocked
against us. The television and radio stations in Ekiti are now involved in a monologue. They have become the official megaphones of Governor Fayose. Truth and justice have taken flight in Ekiti State.
Olugbemi alleged that three of the 19 APC members are secretly holding meetings with the seven PDP lawmakers and are secretly receiving salaries?
I think Olugbemi is in a better position to tell us
the three APC members who are doing that. No
one, I repeat, no one as of today has left the G19
group. They have been impersonating the 19
APC members in their sittings and that is an
offence. Please try and get the votes and
proceedings of the seven members; they should
make their sittings open and allow news
organisations to cover them like we were doing
before. Even the Information Section of the
House is no longer allowed to cover proceedings.
Windows and doors are closed when they are
sitting. What do they have to hide? I will not abandon the party on whose platform I was voted into power.
I think Olugbemi is in a better position to tell us
the three APC members who are doing that. No
one, I repeat, no one as of today has left the G19
group. They have been impersonating the 19
APC members in their sittings and that is an
offence. Please try and get the votes and
proceedings of the seven members; they should
make their sittings open and allow news
organisations to cover them like we were doing
before. Even the Information Section of the
House is no longer allowed to cover proceedings.
Windows and doors are closed when they are
sitting. What do they have to hide? I will not abandon the party on whose platform I was voted into power.
Is it true the Assembly demanded N135m to
approve the list of commissioner-nominees?
I am not aware of any such deal. I attended only
one meeting between the honourable members
and Governor Fayose. I am not aware of what
transpired at any other meeting or meetings held
between the House and the Governor as I was
not there. The allegation of N135m just came
out of the blues and it is a propaganda aimed at
sending political assassins after honourable
members so that they can say they were killed
by armed robbers.
approve the list of commissioner-nominees?
I am not aware of any such deal. I attended only
one meeting between the honourable members
and Governor Fayose. I am not aware of what
transpired at any other meeting or meetings held
between the House and the Governor as I was
not there. The allegation of N135m just came
out of the blues and it is a propaganda aimed at
sending political assassins after honourable
members so that they can say they were killed
by armed robbers.
What’s your take on Fayose’s emergence in Ekiti?
As a citizen of Nigeria, Fayose has the right to
contest for any office of his choice in Ekiti and
Nigeria but I believe that that right must be
exercised under the provisions of the
constitution. The Nigerian constitution is the
ground norm of our society. Anything that
derogates from the constitutional provisions is
an illegality which cannot stand as you cannot
put something on nothing. Our courts,
unfortunately, have been trampled upon that we
no longer get justice but political judgments.
You will recollect Fayose was impeached in
2006. He himself says it at every opportunity and
he owes the state and the nation at large the
duty of disclosing this in his nomination forms
which he submitted to the Independent National
Electoral Commission. The repercussion of failure
to do this and doing otherwise is very clear
under the provisions of the Electoral Act. I will
not want to say more than that for now. I wish
him smooth sailing for as long as it lasts.
PUNCH
As a citizen of Nigeria, Fayose has the right to
contest for any office of his choice in Ekiti and
Nigeria but I believe that that right must be
exercised under the provisions of the
constitution. The Nigerian constitution is the
ground norm of our society. Anything that
derogates from the constitutional provisions is
an illegality which cannot stand as you cannot
put something on nothing. Our courts,
unfortunately, have been trampled upon that we
no longer get justice but political judgments.
You will recollect Fayose was impeached in
2006. He himself says it at every opportunity and
he owes the state and the nation at large the
duty of disclosing this in his nomination forms
which he submitted to the Independent National
Electoral Commission. The repercussion of failure
to do this and doing otherwise is very clear
under the provisions of the Electoral Act. I will
not want to say more than that for now. I wish
him smooth sailing for as long as it lasts.
PUNCH
