Ondo assembly sealed off after lawmakers attack speaker

THE crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly, on Monday, deepened as the assembly went into a rowdy session which led to the closure of the complex.

The rowdy situation saw the embattled Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, being manhandled by the members of the rival group who insisted that she had been impeached while Akindele said she remained the speaker

It was gathered that the speaker and 13 others loyal to her stormed the assembly complex as early as 6:30 a.m. on Monday for parliamentary and plenary sittings.

The other faction, led by Malachi Coker, got wind of the development and mobilised to invade the assembly complex

The Malachi group, however, disrupted proceedings which was presided by Akindele, allegedly dragging her from the speakership seat and the session became rowdy.

Lawmakers from both factions threw caution to the wind, engaging themselves in a shouting match while some hoodlums also invaded the complex apparently to disrupt the sitting.

However, the timely arrival of the men of the State Police Command, led by the Commissioner of Police, Hilda Harrison, saved the situation from degenerating into a bloody clash.

Harrison, thereafter, ordered the closure of the assembly complex.

About 30 policemen were thereafter deployed to the assembly complex with an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed at the entrance of the complex, while security agents also sent workers out of the premises.

However, about 14 lawmakers from the state assembly threw their weight behind the embattled speaker as of Monday while the newly elected speaker, Coker, has 12 followers.

Speaking during a press conference, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Siji Akindiose, said that a vote of confidence was passed on the embattled Speaker and some other principal officers of the house sacked by the other group.

Akindiose said that a machinery to resolve outstanding issues had been put in place while the controversial N15 million was agreed to be kept in the coffers of the assembly until otherwise directed.

He explained that while the plenary was in session, the other faction stormed the assembly complex and dragged the speaker away from the seat, leading to pandemonium.

Akindiose said Akindele had to invite the security agents to put things in order, saying some hired thugs invaded the House in order to disrupt the plenary.

The lawmaker said if the other faction were patient enough, they would have known that the said money was for a project and not what they insinuated.

Also at a briefing, the Coker faction insisted that the impeachment of the speaker and other principal officers of the house was in order

Speaking on behalf of the group, Ogundeji Iroju said the symbol of the House, the mace, is in their possession.

He said the other faction has no right to “Go to the hallowed chamber to conduct the business of the day.”

Iroju hinted that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the commissioner of police have been informed of the change in guards adding that the security personnel attached to the sacked officers will be withdrawn.

Also, Ogundeji said the accounts of the assembly with commercial banks had been frozen in order to prevent the unlawful withdrawal of funds.

He insisted that the money found in the possession of the paymaster was not for any project as it was withdrawn from the running grant of the assembly.

He, however, warned banks to desist from transacting business with the sacked officers, saying that if they did otherwise, they would be seen as accomplices.

Nigerian Tribune, however, gathered that the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and the leadership of the party would be meeting with both factions with a view to resolving the crisis.