Mayowa Olumuyiwa
In view of the secret N4.3 billion saga rocking the Ondo State government and the resolve of the state house of Assembly to leave no stone unturned over the matter, there have been alleged activities of some unscrupulous pen pushers spreading false rumour of how the development had generated lots of rifts between the state executive and legislature and may eventually lead to the state Governor’s impeachment.
According to a Press Statement released by the spokesperson for the Ondo parliament, Honorable Gbenga Omole, members of the Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday at their Parliamentary session, resolved as follows:
1. That there was no plan to commence impeachment moves against the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN.
2. That the news making the rounds that the Speaker’s Lodge was under siege is a hoax and the imagination of those behind it. The lodge was never under siege. The armed Policemen sighted there were at some distance away and were there to maintain peace, law and order.
3. On the issue of the N4.3b under scrutiny, all relevant documents should be submitted to the Committee on Public Account and Committee on Finance and Appropriation respectively.
4. That no member of the House of Assembly should talk to the press without making reference to Mr Speaker. The only person authorised to speak on behalf of the House is the Chairman, House Committee on Information.
5. There is a robust relationship between the Executive Arm of Government and the Legislature; whatever has been planted in the media in recent times are the handiwork of fifth columnists.
It would be recalled that the Ondo State executive and legislature under the present administration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State had enjoyed unprecedented cohesion until recent findings that sparked some reactions and counter reactions, when the commissioner for Finance was questioned during the assembly’s plenary on the grounds of a N4.3 billion, allegedly found in a secret bank belonging to the Ondo State government.
The money was said to have been in the said account since over 10 years ago, even before the immediate past Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, not to talk of the incumbent Governor Akeredolu.
