Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
July 2, 2015 – A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro has appealed to the Lagos State House of Assembly to restore his privilege as former governor of the state by revisiting his impeachment by the 5th Assembly in 2007.
Pedro who served as deputy governor of the state during the tenure of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was impeached by the state House of Assembly about two weeks to end of the administration
In a letter read on the floor of the House by the Clerk, Ganiyu Abiru, the ex-governor made a plea for the House to revisit his impeachment as a way of being compassionate.
The Clerk also stated that the letter from the former governor was attached with his letter of resignation while leaving his office.
In his contribution, a member, Rotimi Olowo Shomolu I called on his colleagues to reverse the impeachment, arguing that the tone of the letter showed that the former governor was remorseful of his action while in office.
The lawmaker added that Pedro is his close friend, who according to him, is upright in character, saying that the purpose of carrying out the impeachment then was not based on fraud or criminal tendencies.
“The purpose of the impeachment is not traceable to fraud or misconduct, probably because of high-handedness or lack of respect for constituted authority. Mr. Speaker, I suggest we set up an Ad-hoc committee to either sustain or revisit the resolution of the 5th Assembly,” Olowo opined.
Abiodun Tobun however made a contrary opinion. He believes the 5th Assembly that impeached Pedro had actually done a good job.
He advised his colleagues to tread cautiously, saying that “many of us were not here when the House took the decision. We have to look critically at the circumstances surrounding the impeachment process so that we do not err.”
Also commenting on the issue, Moshood Oshun, Lagos Mainland II reiterated the need to follow due process before taking decision on the plea by the ex-governor.
“We can’t base any submission on an assumption. Though, the tone of the letter is an appeal, yet an Ad-hoc committee would have to be set up to look into the issue critically,” Oshun said.
In consideration of the letter, the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa constituted 8-man ad-hoc committee headed by the Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade.
Other members of the committee includes: Desmond Elliot, Surulere I, Folajimi Mohammed Ikeja I, Muyiwa Jimoh Apapa II, Kazeem Alimi, Eti-Osa I, Shokunle Hakeem, Oshodi-Isolo I, Gbolahan Yishawu Eti-Osa II and Moshood Oshun Lagos Mainland II.
