Leadership Crisis: Police Quiz Aggrieved Ondo Lawmakers

By James Sowole in Akure

Following the leadership crisis that rocked the Ondo State House of Assembly at the weekend, the state police command has quizzed some lawmakers.

Confusion ensued in the assembly last Friday when crisis erupted in the assembly following the purported impeachment of the speaker, deputy speaker and the majority leader of the assembly, Mrs. Jumoke Akindele, Mr. Fatai Olotu and Mr. Ifedayo Akinsoyinu respectively by 14 of the lawmakers over allegation of financial mismanagement.

The lawmakers that were questioned were both members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress APC).

The aggrieved lawmakers said the decision to impeach and other the principal officers was taken for alleged withdrawal of a sum of N15 million by the assembly paymaster Mr. Majekodumi Adesina without due process but on the instructions of the suspended.

After suspending the principal officers, the rebel lawmakers appointed Mr. Malachi Coker representing Ilaje Constituency 1, Mr. Ayodele Arowele from Owo Constituency 1 and Olamide George, representing Akure North Constituency as the speaker, deputy speaker and majority leader respectively in acting capacity.

Akindele, who denied the allegation and condemned the action of her antagonist colleagues insisted that she was still the speaker, saying the rebel colleagues had no power to take such action against her.

As at now,  the two factions in the assembly were laying claims to the leadership of the assembly.

It was gathered that the police command invited Arowele and other rebel lawmakers over the whereabouts of the mace.

The police was also said to have invited the paymaster and the clerk of the assembly, Mr. Bode Adeyelu, on their roles in the crisis.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, denied arresting any lawmaker.

He explained that the police was just making effort to prevent the matter from degenerating to a full-blown crisis.

He said, “ We did not arrest any lawmaker, the matter was an internal crisis in the House of Assembly, it doesn’t concern us but our own is to prevent the crisis from degenerating to serious crisis. “

Joseph, who said the police would not take side with any of the factions added that more policemen would be deployed to the Assembly complex to beef up security ahead of today’s legislative activities.