The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Olamide Oladiji, has accused some lawmakers of scheming to frustrate Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration and obstruct its efforts to deliver democratic dividends to the people.
Speaking with journalists in Akure on Saturday, Oladiji said the alleged plot stems from a growing rift within the Assembly, despite all 26 members belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He explained that while 14 lawmakers remain aligned with him and actively participate in legislative duties, 12 others have reportedly stayed away due to unresolved grievances.
According to the Speaker, reports circulating on social media that the dissenting lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in him are misleading.
He emphasized that many of the aggrieved members are currently outside the country.
Oladiji stated, “We have a Standing Order in the House of Assembly, including how we relate with the executive. These honourable members who claim to have passed a vote of no confidence in me have not been attending sittings. As I speak, the majority of them are outside the country.”
He added that some lawmakers had attempted to tie their requests to the passage of the re-ordered budget, a move he said would have stalled government activities.
“They insisted that they wanted to use the passage of the re-ordered budget to drive home their demands. But the 14 of us told them that we are part of this government, and whatever we need should be done maturely, not by frustrating government activities,” Oladiji said.
The Speaker further affirmed that the Assembly proceeded with the reordering of the budget during its last plenary session with the support of Governor Aiyedatiwa.
“We are strongly together, and we have the backing of His Excellency because what we are doing is in the interest of the state,” he added, appealing to the dissenting lawmakers to return and resume their constitutional responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr. Olatunji Oshati, dismissed claims of an internal leadership crisis or plans to impeach the Speaker.
“There is no crisis in the Assembly. We are still together, performing our legislative duties for the development of the state,” he stated, stressing that the House remains united.
