‘Osinbajo’s, Fayemi’s intervention restored peace to Ondo House’

Fifteen lawmakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly who fled the state following the purported impeachment of Speaker Bamidele Oleyelogun and his deputy, Ogundeji Iroju, yesterday said the intervention of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi led to their return to the Assembly to perform their oversight functions.

A statement by Majority Leader Olugbenga Araoyinbo said: “We wish to place it on record that following Vice President Osinbajo’s and Governor Fayemi’s intervention, we have decided to return to parliament and have a final resolution to the issues.

“However, at no time did we agree that Oleyelogun and Ogundeji will continue to preside as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.

“It is instructive that the duo of Olajide and Oluyede, who had claimed that their signatures were forged, admitted that the signatures on the Impeachment Notice were theirs. Needless to say that we shall approach a court of law for appropriate redress for the defamation of our character.”

Araoyinbo said at the meeting with Fayemi, the lawmakers canvassed many positions, all of which seemed abhorrent to Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

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According to him, they made it clear that the erstwhile Speaker and Deputy Speaker had lost the confidence of majority members.

He said it is morally indefensible for them to remain in office.

Araoyinbo said they suggested that they be given a chance to resign honourably in the interest of the state.

He added: “Contrary to all democratic ethos, ethics and practices, we suggested that the governor should nominate from among us a new leadership with whom he can be comfortable, as most of us had expressed our unwillingness to be led by the duo, but he again refused…”