Exclusive: Crisis Engulfs Ogun Assembly, As Members Demand Change Of House Leadership

ABEOKUTA - The brewing crisis rocking Ogun State House of Assembly took new dimension on Thursday as members of the hallowed chamber demanded for immediate change in leadership of the House. 

The lawmakers in a letter dated 14th June, 2022 and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Olakunle Oluomo noted that the change of House leadership would allow other members rare privileges of leading the House and enhance their respective profiles. 

The aggrieved lawmakers demanded change in leadership in position of Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Majority Leader and Deputy Chief Whip.

The letter was signed by over 10 members of the House.

THE ENCOUNTER NEWS reports that, the Speaker of the House,  Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo had announced on the floor on the House that Gov. Abiodun has ‘refused to pay their Constituency Project Allowance since beginning of the administration in 2019’, hence, depriving them the opportunity of giving dividends of democracy back to their people except the projects few of them were able to do with their personal funds.

The demands by the lawmakers may not be unconnected to the unyielding attitude of Governor Abiodun to the request of the lawmakers over their constituency allowances.

Our reporter exclusively gathered that the House also failed to pass the Supplementary Budget Bill earlier scheduled for 3rd Reading today (Thursday). 

The House earlier adjourned till today basically for the passage of the Supplementary Budget earlier sent to them by the Governor, but we were informed that quorum was not formed because majority of the aggrieved members were absent. 18 is the quorum for the passage of such financial Bill, but only less than 10 members were seen around in the Assembly Complex.

Some of the members who spoke with THE ENCOUNTER NEWS on condition of anonymity for fear of attack, hinged their protest on the refusal of Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo to honour the invitation of the House to defend and justify the 2022 Budget.

They also said the Finance  Commissioner failed to answer questions on the N250 Billion bond previously approved by the House.