The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, has dismissed reports of an impeachment move against him, saying there is no formal process to remove him from office.
As reported by Positive FM, Oladiji also disclosed that the tension which disrupted legislative activities at the Assembly complex on Thursday was triggered by the presence of three youths he had invited, describing them as youth leaders who came to the premises over recruitment-related matters.
The Speaker, while addressing the development, said the disagreement among lawmakers had been resolved following the intervention of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress.
He urged his colleagues to put the incident behind them and concentrate on their legislative responsibilities, warning that prolonged internal disagreements could affect the smooth running of the Assembly.
According to him, the three youths had initially been invited to his official residence but later proceeded to the Assembly after discovering that he was at his office.
Oladiji explained that their presence at the Assembly’s reception attracted the attention of one of the lawmakers, who questioned their reason for being on the premises.
He said the youths explained that they were at the Assembly in connection with recruitment forms and had no intention of interfering with the activities of the lawmakers.
The Speaker said he intervened after noticing that their presence was creating tension and directed them to leave the premises to prevent the situation from escalating.
He added that he subsequently met with the lawmakers and explained the circumstances surrounding the youths’ visit, stressing that there was no plan to use them to disrupt the Assembly’s proceedings.
Oladiji also rejected the description of the visitors as hoodlums, insisting that they were youth leaders who had visited the Assembly for recruitment-related purposes and did not engage in violence or intimidation.
He said the disagreement eventually consumed a significant portion of the Assembly’s time, making it impossible for the lawmakers to hold the scheduled sitting.
The Speaker further described reports of an impeachment process against him as unfounded, noting that no impeachment notice had been served and no formal proceeding had commenced against him.
He appealed to the lawmakers to remember the people they represent and ensure that political differences do not distract them from enacting laws and performing other constitutional duties.
Oladiji said the intervention by the governor and APC leaders had helped to calm the situation, adding that the lawmakers had been urged to maintain the status quo in the interest of peace and stability.
He also apologised to the people of Ondo State over the disruption, assuring them that the Assembly under his leadership remained committed to peace and effective legislation.
“I want to tender my sincere apology to the people of Ondo State that, as far as the Ondo State House of Assembly is concerned under my watch, I want to give them 100 per cent assurance that peace will continue to reign and that the law and whatever legislative assignment we have will be in the interest of the people of Ondo State,” he said.
The Speaker expressed confidence that the lawmakers would move beyond the disagreement and resume full legislative activities, stressing that a stable Assembly was essential to effective governance and the development of the state.