APC Lawmakers in Ekiti State, Others Protest Impeachment of Speaker in Lagos

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Comrade Abiodun Aremu, Secretary Joint Action Fund, JAF(middle) addressing aggrieved workers at Government House, Alausa

November 21, 2014 – Sixteen All Progressives Congress, (APC) lawmakers in Ekiti State House of Assembly and members of the civil societies today protested in Lagos State over impeachment of the Speaker of the House, Dr. Adewale Omirin.

The protest is coming just about 24 hours after Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State endorsed and congratulated the new speaker, Dele Olugbemi and his deputy, Mrs. Abeni Olayinka.

The protesting lawmakers who arrived at the state house, Alausa Secretariat at 5:00 pm were joined by their Lagos State counterpart, to condemn the act.

Speaking on behalf protesting lawmakers, Majority Leader, Mr. Churchill Adedipe, said that the crisis started with the incumbent Governor, who ‘blackmailed’ them in public.

He noted that the impeachment was sponsored by the Governor after they refused to approve the list of commissioners and other aides sent by the governor, saying “we didn’t see the people the governor forwarded their name to us. And we decided to adjourn the sitting till the next day, to allow the house do its findings. This alone infuriated the incumbent governor.”

Speaking during the protest, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, lamented “We were shocked when we learnt that seven members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly purportedly removed the speaker and other principal officer of the house. Ekiti State House of Assembly consist of 26 members and one could wonder how seven members will form a quorum is still a misery.

“And, how seven members removed the speaker and other principal officer of the house, makes us to believe that the omen is very bad for the country’s democracy. We quickly convened an emergency seating. And at the seating, we condemned the action of the seven lawmakers. And we also condemned the activities of the Inspector General in Ekiti State and at the National Assembly yesterday.

“I was surprised that the man who claimed to have experience in government could be perpetrating this, to me that was experience in illegality.

“He came on air to tell Nigerians that he has approved the appointment of the new speaker. To us this isn’t a good sign for the country’s democracy.

“Nigerians are worried and we as lawmakers, we are also worried. And we want you (Governor Babatunde Fashola) to convey our letter to the president. A lot of things are happening that required the president to wake up from slumber and uphold the constitution of the country.
Reacting, Fashola said “there are rules in the house about how the leader emerged and how he could be removed. Sometimes this context gets intense. But the truth must be the truth.

“I think that Jonathan has a moral duty now to play on this issue. This conflict is formed on partisan confrontation. As the leader of one side, I hope that he will perform the leadership right required in this issue.”

The lawmakers later presented a letter of protest to President Goodluck Jonathan through Fashola.

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