The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dele Olugbemi

  • Fayemi is better than Fayose – Ex- Speaker

    A former factional Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dele Olugbemi, has warned Governor Ayo Fayose to “stop adopting use-and-dump tactics” as one of his styles as a politician.

    Olugbemi, who rejected his appointment by Fayose as a member of the House of Assembly Service Commission last week, expressed dismay that Fayose did not appreciate the sacrifices he made to keep him on office as governor.

    Having worked with both former Governor Kayode Fayemi and Fayose as a legislator, Olugbemi declared that the two of them are incomparable saying, “the worst of Fayemi is better than the best of Fayose.”

    He declared that the rejection of the appointment was based on principle and to send a message that “the era of sole administratorship has become outlandish and democratic ethos must be imbibed in the running of government.”

    Olugbemi spoke with reporters on Saturday on the heels of the heat generated by his rejection of the appointment and shunning of the screening and confirmation of HASC nominees by the state lawmakers last week.

    The ex-factional Speaker vowed to henceforth challenge what he called “any undemocratic tendency of Fayose through strong and constructive engagement.”

    He listed some politicians allegedly betrayed by Fayose after benefiting from them to include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, former Ekiti Assembly Speaker, Femi Bamisile, former Ekiti PDP Secretary, Tope Aluko and House of Assembly candidate, Odunayo Talabi.

  • Impeachment: Court accepts Ekiti APC lawmakers’ application

    Impeachment: Court accepts Ekiti APC lawmakers’ application

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday accepted the application for discontinuance of suit filed by 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in Ekiti State, challenging the impeachment of Speaker Adewale Omirin.

    Justice Saliu Saidu while striking out the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1823/14, and filed against the Governor, Ayodele Fayose and 13 others for their alleged role in the impeachment of Omirin and his deputy, Adetunji Orisalade, awarded N100, 000 cost in favour of the defendants.

    The plaintiffs had on April 7, filed an application through their lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN), seeking to discontinue their case against Fayose, the seven People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) lawmakers and others, over the ”’unlawful” removal of Omirin and Orisalade on November 20 last year.

    Joined as the defendants along with Fayose,  Dele Olugbemi and Olayinka Abeni were the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in the state and the Department of State Service.

    Others include the three commissioners cleared for appointment by the House under Olugbemi’s leadership and the five other PDP lawmakers in the House.

    The plaintiffs among other things, sought an order restraining the factional Speaker of the House, Olugbemi, and his deputy, Abeni, from either parading themselves as or executing duties in the capacity of the leaders of the House.

    The plaintiffs’ move to discontinue the suit was objected by the defendants who argued that the matter should rather be dismissed, since it has filed its statement of defence.

    Counsel to the defendants, E.O. Afolayan, representing his principal Femi Adesina (SAN), prayed the court to dismiss the suit because “it is the proper thing to do.”

    He urged the court to dismiss the case in order to foreclose any future representation of the matter by the plaintiffs.

     

  • Ekiti ‘speaker’, ‘deputy’ lose out in constituencies

    Ekiti ‘speaker’, ‘deputy’ lose out in constituencies

    Preliminary results of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly primary election held in Ekiti State on Saturday revealed that factional “speaker” Dele Olugbemi will not be returning to the Assembly.

    His “deputy”, Mrs. Abeni Olayinka did not seek re-election.

    The Nation gathered yesterday that a woman candidate, Princess Titi Owolabi, won the primary conducted in Olugbemi’s Ikole Constituency 2.

    Olugbemi left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP on October 16 during the swearing-in of Governor Ayo Fayose.

    He later emerged factional “speaker” on November 20 when seven PDP lawmakers “impeached” Dr. Adewale Omirin.

    Former State PDP Director of Information Gboyega Aribisogan won the PDP ticket in Ikole Constituency 1.

    The constituency is being represented by another defector from the APC, who will not be returning to the House, Adeyinka Adeloye.

    Mrs. Olayinka who did not contest in the Saturday primary is believed to be seeking a cabinet position after her tenure.

    In Ikere 1 Constituency, Wale Ayeni picked the PDP ticket; Sunday Akinniyi won the primary conducted in Ikere Constituency 2.

    In Oye 2 Constituency, Tunji Akinyele is the consensus candidate having been given the ticket by Fayose for his “unflinching loyalty”.

    Akinyele was one of the two lawmakers who didn’t sign Fayose’s impeachment notice leading to his removal from office in 2006.

    While there were elections in some constituencies, candidates emerged in other constituencies through consensus.

    State PDP Chairman Idowu Faleye has denied allegations that candidates for the House of Assembly primary election were imposed.

    The PDP boss urged any aggrieved aspirant to take his case to the appeal panel.

    He said 52 aspirants vied for the party’s tickets to the House of Assembly in the 26 constituencies.

  • Factional lawmakers impeach Ekiti Speaker

    Factional lawmakers impeach Ekiti Speaker

    …  Pick Olugbemi as replacement

    Ekiti State lawmakers on Thursday impeached Dr. Adewale Omirin as their Speaker and appointed Mr. Dele Olugbemi as his replacement.

    Olugbemi recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party from the All Progressives Congress.

    The Minority Leader, Hon. Samuel Ajibola, said the decision became imperative following “Omirin and his deputy absence without official notice,” adding that “the business of the House cannot grind to a halt as government is a continuum.”

    The lawmakers, according to Ajibola, found “Omirin guilty of revealing official secrets, misappropriation of Assembly funds and signing of bonds with the past executive without the knowledge of other members of the House.”

    Regarding the controversy surrounding the number of lawmakers who executed the impeachment as only seven members were with the new speaker during his interaction with journalists, the new speaker said, “you can see we are seven here. Others for now just want to remain anonymous.”