The crisis rocking the Ondo state House of Assembly took a new turn recently as the new speaker, Olamide George has vowed to resist any form of intimidation, harassment or witch-hunting from security agencies in the state.
George was responding to an invitation letter for interview and questioning by the Ondo state police command of a case of forgery of signature leveled by two members of the assembly
Addressing journalists on Saturday, November 24, George who came with 15 other members affirmed that they have been invited by the police, but stressed that they won’t be cowed into doing the bidding of the state governor, who he accused of causing the crisis in the assembly.
His words: “Injustice is in the land, Ondo state is crying for help, we are marked men scampering for safety, and our case is synonymous to the hunter becoming the hunted.
“It is an open secret that our hallowed chamber was invaded by thugs loyal and assigned by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu after the impeachment of the former house leadership over gross abuse of office and corruption under the supervision of the commissioner of police, Gbenga Adeyanju.
“There are video documentary and pictorial evidences in the public space to show the brutality of NURTW state chairman, Jacob Adebo (Idajo) and his boys inflicted on honourable members, staff and visitor to the assembly complex.
“Unfortunately now, the thugs and their sponsors are yet to be invited, interrogated or charged to court for assault and breach of public peace as we the oppressed are now the culpable culprits in the whole episode, we are determined to seek and get justice by engaging a forensic expert to authenticate our assertion that Olajide and Oluyede actually signed the impeachment notice.”
He vowed that the Ondo state House of Assembly will resume sitting on Monday, November 26, “as we have refused to be cowed, tailored or intimidated by agents of government.”
“We call on the IG to immediately redeploy Adeyanju as he is a bias officer who has taken side and we cannot get the deserved justice under his watch, and the police authorities should immediately arrest all the NURTW thugs who invaded the assembly complex now as failure to do this will be an invitation to chaos in the land,” he concluded.
Two weeks ago, the former Ondo state House of Assembly speaker, Bamidele Oloyelogun and his deputy, Iroju Ogundeji were impeached over alleged gross misconduct.
The deputy speaker lroju Ogundeji was earlier impeached and subsequently reinstated early this year.
Analysts say the crisis in the assembly is not unconnected to the crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter in the state since the party primaries were held ahead of the 2019 general elections.
