Ondo deputy speaker impeached

THE Ondo State House of Assembly on Tuesday, impeached the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Iroju Ogundeji.

The removal of Iroju was sequel to a letter signed by 18 out of 26 members of the House of Assembly read and moved by the lawmaker representing Akoko North East constituency during Tuesday’s plenary session.

The motion to remove Iroju, the lawmaker representing Odigbo constituency was, however, seconded by Hon. Malachi Coker.

The lawmakers at the plenary passed a vote of no confidence on the former Deputy Speaker and was removed by the members of the state Assembly.

Olotu, while moving the motion, said Iroju impeachment was a sequel to his being at “loggerheads with the Speaker of the House of Assembly” Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun.

Olotu noted that the frosty relationship between the Office of the Speaker and his Deputy is not in the interest of members of the state Assembly, saying “the office of the Speaker is an exalted one that must be respected.”

Also, the lawmaker representing Akure South state constituency, Hon Olajide Sunday, said the impeached Deputy Speaker had been working at cross-purposes with the Speaker and said the development would not bring the desired democracy dividend to the people of the state.

• APC holds parallel congress in Ondo State

Consequently, the lawmakers elected Hon. Bimbo Fajolu, who is representing Ile Oluji/ Oke Igbo state constituency.

Fajolu nomination as Deputy Speaker was moved by Hon. Israel Olajide and was seconded by erstwhile Speaker, Hon. Jumoke Akindele.

The new Deputy Speaker, Fajolu was immediately sworn in by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Bamidele Oleyelogun.

However, the impeached Deputy Speaker, who represents Odigbo Constituency II in the Assembly, declined to comment on the development as he walked out from the floor of the House.