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Tag: Ondo Assembly

  • Ondo Assembly Speaker, deputy impeached

    The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Princess Jumoke Akindele, was impeached by the lawmakers on Friday.

    Akindele, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, is representing Okitipupa in the Assembly.

    A lawmaker representing Ilaje 1 State Constituency, Hon. Coker Malachi, has been elected the new Speaker of the House.

    The House also impeached its Deputy Speaker, Fatai Olotu from Akoko division in the Northern District, and elected another person to replace him.

    The plot was reportedly hatched outside the Assembly premises and at odd time.

    The Nation gathered that the Assembly had been in crisis since March last year when Akindele and Olotu were first impeached

    They were impeached by 18 out of the 26 members of the House for alleged highhandedness but the intervention of Governor Olusegun Mimiko helped in reversing the impeachment.

     

     

  • Impeachment move at Ondo Assembly, mockery of democracy

    Impeachment move at Ondo Assembly, mockery of democracy

    A group, Pro-Demo-cracy for Good Governance, has described the recent impeachment move of the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele, by the lawmakers as a mockery of democracy.

    The group said though the action had been reversed, it noted that it was a show of shame on the part of the legislative members who set aside the rules of the House by impeaching the Speaker in a private residence outside of the Assembly floor at an odd hour.

    A statement signed by the group’s Co-ordinator, Akinwumi Bayode said “the puerile reasons of drunkenness and easy virtue given as excuse for her impeachment are at best laughable, as these could pass for a comedy.

    “One would have expected honourable members of the Assembly to be intelligent enough to know that the Ondo State discerning public could not be easily fooled to believe that a woman so elected twice as Speaker, could be a woman of easy virtues and a drunkard.

    The group said the legislative members, especially the ruling PDP members,  should perhaps share part of her blame of lack of focus, transparency, incompetence, arrogance and poor leadership also levelled against her by electing her for a second term in office as speaker and for staying this long before discovering these traits.

    The statement fingered Gov Olusegun Mimiko as the man behind the plot, alleging that the arrow-head of the 18 members that attended the secret meeting to impeach the speaker are his close allies.

    It lamented the governor’s politics of divide and rule, describing it as ‘disheartening.’

     

  • APC faults Ondo Assembly’s approval of N7b loan

    APC faults Ondo Assembly’s approval of N7b loan

    The Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend criticised the State House of Assembly for approving a loan of N7 billion to the state government.

    According to reports, Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s request for the loan from an unnamed bank had earlier been turned down by the Assembly, questioning why it gave approval for the state government to secure same from another bank.

    The APC added that it would not have raised any eyebrow over the new loan if those previously obtained had been used to better the lots of the people of the state.

    In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, the party recalled that the present government inherited over N38billion from its predecessor and has no genuine reason to plunge the state into huge debt at the twilight of its tenure.

    The APC further faulted the inability of the state government to satisfactorily disburse the bail-out fund recently granted it by the federal government, adding that it was on the insensitive on the part of the governor to go cap-in-hand to borrow more money from a bank soon after.

    The statement reads, “Reports reaching the APC in Ondo State lend credence to the fact that the bail-out fund meant for the payment of workers’ salaries and benefits of pensioners has been squandered on purchasing cars for recent appointees of Governor Mimiko, as well as the Caretaker Chairmen he appointed for the 18 Local Councils in the State.

    It called on the governor, who has barely 14 months to leave office, to tread softly and learn from former governors of other states who are currently facing various court cases across the country over their stewardship.

    The party also reminded the Jumoke Akindele-led House of Assembly to desist from being a mere “rubber stamp” of the actions of the executive arm of government.

     

     

  • Ondo Assembly approves N7b loan for Mimiko

    Ondo Assembly approves N7b loan for Mimiko

    The Ondo State House of Assembly has approved the government’s proposal to take a N7billion loan from Zenith Bank Plc for the completion of all ongoing projects.

    The House yesterday observed that the loan was necessary to allow the government complete its projects and embark on new ones.

    The Speaker, Mrs Jumoke Akindele, also cancelled the previous resolution dated August 4, which earlier enabled the government borrow N7 billion from Access Bank Plc.

    Mrs. Akindele declared that “the resolution dated August 4, which enabled Ondo State to borrow N7 billion from Access Bank Plc is withdrawn, cancelled and of no effect whatsoever.”

    According to her, “the Ondo State government is hereby allowed to borrow N7 billion from Zenith Bank Plc to finance ongoing capital projects.”

    The majority leader and member representing Ondo West II, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, moved the motion to cancel the previous resolution and give a new resolution to the government to secure N7 billion loan from Zenith Bank Plc.

    The Minority Leader, Mukaila Musa representing Owo 11, seconded the motion.

     

  • New Ondo Assembly inaugurated

    The seventh House of Assembly in Ondo State was yesterday dissolved by its Speaker, Ms Jumoke Akindele.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ms Akindele dissolved the 2011/2015 legislature after a valedictory sitting in Akure.

    “The seventh Assembly of the Ondo State House of Assembly, which was inaugurated on June 1, 2011, having completed four years, hereby stands dissolved,” she said.

    Akindele said the “seventh Assembly had not only seen, but conquered”.

    The Deputy Speaker, Dare Emiola (Akoko South-West 1),  said: “It was a rare privilege and honour to have served in the Assembly.’’

    The Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu (Ondo West 2), said the House moved 57 motions and passed 19 bills.

    Dele Oleyelogun (Ifedore) thanked the people of his constituency for giving him the opportunity to serve.

    The eighth Assembly was immediately inaugurated with Ms Akindele emerging as speaker for a second term.

    The new Assembly was proclaimed  at 12.05 pm by the Clerk, Bode Adeyelu, on behalf of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was absent at the inauguration.

    The new assembly began business with the election of the speaker and deputy speaker .

    Ms Akindele, who represents Okitipupa II, was was nominated by  Olamide George (Akure North constituency).

    Olotu Fatai from Akoko North East was elected deputy speaker, having been nominated by Adeniyi Coker Malachiý representing Ilaje II.

    The newly elected officers were sworn in by the Clerk, after which the Speaker administered the oath of office on other members of the House.

    The Assembly, which consists of 26 members, has five All Progressives Congress (APC) and 21 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.

    There are six returning members.

  • Ondo Assembly serves Olanusi impeachment notice

    Ondo Assembly serves Olanusi impeachment notice

    The Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday served the Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi, a notice of impeachment for alleged gross misconduct.

    The crisis between Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Olanusi deepened, following the deputy governor’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Last Monday, Olanusi was assaulted by suspected thugs, who prevented him from entering the Government House.

    Some of the allegations levelled against him include- financial misappropriation, absenteeism from official duties, allegedly causing political disaffection in the executive council.

    The impeachment notice was signed by 20 of the 26 lawmakers.

    The Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu (Ondo West II) moved the motion. He was seconded by Yinka Banso (Akoko North West I).

    The Speaker, Mrs. Jumoke Akindele, said the action was in line with the 1999 Constitution.

    The APC has described the reported impeachment as a notice in futility.

    A statement by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said the party is aware of the purported impeachment notice.

    It said Olanusi had written to Mimiko on April 17 with Ref. No. OBG/A/136/67 that he was going on routine medical check up outside the country.

    The APC said Olanusi had since travelled out of the country on April 18.

    The party described as laughable the House of Assembly’s claim that it has served the deputy governor an impeachment notice.

    APC said the lawmakers know that the law does not permit service of impeachment notice in absential.

     

  • APC, old PDP unite for Ondo Assembly poll

    APC, old PDP unite for Ondo Assembly poll

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state and Dr Olu Ogunye- led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have entered into an accord to ensure total victory for all APC House of Assembly candidates at the election.

    The pact tagged “Igbotako Accord” was signed by the APC Chairman,Isaac Kekemeke, factional chairman of the PDP, Ogunye, and the convener of the meeting, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim.

    APC and PDP by the accord have decided to work together for the success of all APC candidates during April 11 election.

    Sources said the alliance has sent shivers down the spine of the new PDP under the leadership of the former Commissioner for Community Development, Clement Faboyede, who is working for Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The leaders in a communique signed at the end of the meeting in Igbotako residence of Chief Jimoh Ibrahim called on the electorate to vote massively for APC candidates to stop the drift in governance in the state.

    The meeting deliberated on the political, economic situation and the political realities on ground in the state and concluded that a United front of both APC and PDP is required to restore the hope of the people in governance and stop further economic and social slide.

    This according to the leaders prompted the call for all citizens in the state to vote for all APC candidates as a way of strengthening the legislative arms of government in Ondo state.

    ‘The Nation’learnt that the PDP’s dismal outing in the state has forced Mimiko who is the Southwest Coordinator for President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation to lobby various groups including civil servants,religious groups,traditional institution and students body to bail him out of total disgrace in the next saturday Assembly poll.

    According to a source,the governor believed the state legislative election would determine his fate whether he will complete his second term or not.

    The Jonathan’s Campaign Coordinator could not fulfil his earlier pledge to deliver over one million votes in Ondo state to the incumbent President.

    Consequently,it was learnt that Mimiko has fixed a meeting for tomorrow with the public servants where he is expected to placate the state working force on the need to vote for his candidates at the polls.

    However,feelers from the state public servants hinted that they have resolved to vote according to their conscience without any form of threat or intimidation.

    Reacting to this development,the state APC media Committee secretary,  Charles Titiloye commended the leaders of the two parties for their patriotism and uncommon courage in reaching an accord aimed at salvaging Ondo state from current mismanagement, lack of focus and direction.

    The party noted that the state which is the only oil Producing state in south-west has little to show for billions of Naira accruing to it,stressing that all citizens of the state must use the opportunity of this week house of assembly to inject sanity and good governance to the state by massively voting for all APC house of assembly candidates.

  • Ondo Assembly calls for military points

    The Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday called for the establishment of military check points at boundary towns to curtail robbery in the state.

    It urged the Army and other security agencies to strengthen operations in the state to ensure security of lives and property.

    Fatai Olotu ( Akoko North East ) said there was the need for the establishment of military check points at boundary towns in the state.

    The lawmaker said last Tuesday’s robbery, where 21 persons were reportedly killed in Ikare Akoko, was the third in the town in the recent times.

    He added that economic and commercial activities have been paralysed in the town as a result of the incident and called on the government to facilitate the posting of army officers to the town.

    Olotu said the town is close to Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara and Edo states, a situation which he said made it easy for robbers to use it as an escape route.

    The Speaker, Princess Jumoke Akindele, called on security operatives to be proactive.

  • APC blasts Ondo Assembly

    APC blasts Ondo Assembly

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have criticised the House of Assembly for its failure to pass the Local Government Autonomy Bill.

    A statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said the Assembly was a stooge of the Olusegun Mimiko-led executive.

    The APC lamented that the wishes and aspirations of the members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Ondo State have been dashed by the Assembly.

    It said: “The action is a pointer to the fact that the Mimiko led-government is not concerned about the welfare of people.”

    Adesanya assured the people that APC would produce credible lawmakers who would be proactive, dedicated and committed to the development of the state.

    He urged the electorate to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had rendered the legislature useless.

    “Ondo Assembly has become an extension of the executive, APC lawmakers are intimidated by the Speaker Jumoke Akindele, who is acting out the script of the governor.

    “What we are sure of is that by next year, our people will be delivered from the hands of this political pharaoh who has not allowed the “Sun of the State” to shine.”

  • Silent murmurs in Ondo Assembly

    THE defection of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the Ondo State governor, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Labour Party (LP) is expectedly redefining the politics of the sunshine state. This is happening against the backdrop of unconfirmed reports that some members of the state House of Assembly are silently grumbling over how they were allegedly ‘cajoled’ by the governor to accompany him to the Presidential Villa on the invitation of President Goodluck Jonathan. The lawmakers were said to be heading back to Akure, the Ondo State capital, after attending the National Awards ceremony in Abuja during which Mimiko was conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). But as it later turned out, the ‘presidential invitation’ turned out as an occasion for the governor’s formal declaration for the PDP. And in a related development, the former state secretariat of the LP, located on Fiwasaye Road in the state capital, has been converted to the new secretariat of the PDP on the directive of the governor. It is, however, not clear yet how the old members of the PDP would take this relocation, as many of them were allegedly taken unawares by the unexpected development.