Ex-Speaker Gets Soft Landing, to Tender Resignation
Five More Lawmakers Join Forces Against Oluomo
Daud Olatunji
A stormy meeting between Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and some lawmakers over the removal of the immediate-past Speaker of the State House of Assembly has ended in a deadlock.
PLATFORM TIMES exclusively gathered that the meeting occurred 24 hours after the successful plot to oust Oluomo as Speaker of the Assembly at the instance of Abiodun.
No fewer than 18 lawmakers signed the impeachment notice used to oust Oluomo as Speaker and brought in a third-term lawmaker from Odeda constituency, Oludaisi Elemide.
Elemide was known as one of the loyalists of the erstwhile governor of the state and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Aremo Segun Osoba.
Both Elemide and Oluomo had locked horns during the 2019 and 2023 contests for the seat but were won by the latter.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the meeting was held following the accusations leveled against the executive of being the brain behind the removal of the fourth-term lawmaker from Ifo 1 state constituency.
Many political analysts pointed fingers at the executive as the sponsor of what many called a ‘palace coup,’ which took place while Oluomo was a few kilometers away from the complex for a public function.
While many people who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES under the condition of anonymity alleged that Oluomo might have been lured to the public event with a view to carrying out the removal.
PLATFORM TIMES observed that unlike some previous similar occasions where judges and permanent secretaries were sworn in, most media were not carried along.
Sources who were part of the meeting held between Abiodun and some lawmakers hinted at PLATFORM TIMES that both Oluomo and Elemide were not invited.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that there was a heated argument over the attempt to reverse the removal of Oluomo.
The lawmakers, composed of nine Peoples Democratic Party members and about 15 APC members, insisted that the removal of Oluomo remains.
While the meeting was ongoing, it was gathered that five additional lawmakers joined the 18 that signed the impeachment, including one of them who was outside the country.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the lawmaker who was abroad reportedly sent a letter of authorization via email, asking the colleagues to add his signature to the notice.
At the meeting, the Governor reportedly asked the lawmakers to reinstate Oluomo as Speaker; however, the instruction was turned down by the lawmakers.
The governor was reported to be angry with the lawmakers over the action, which has projected the state in a bad light.
After the long unsuccessful attempts to reverse the removal, the governor was said to have settled for a soft landing for Oluomo.
The governor was reported to have mooted the idea of allowing Oluomo to tender a letter of resignation as Speaker.
The lawmakers repeatedly agreed and were set to hold either an emergency plenary or wait until next week Tuesday, the adjourned date after the impeachment when the letter would be accepted.
Abiodun is said to be planning to position himself as the only de facto political leader in the APC in the state ahead of the Congress of the party with a view to ensuring the choice of his successor.
As of the time of filing the report, many Abiodun loyalists were said to be eyeing the covetous seat in 2027, including his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele.
Apart from the obvious interest shown by the Senator representing Ogun West, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, many others were said to have begun positioning themselves, including the former ambassador to the UK, Ambassador Sarafa Isola, who was being pushed by the Egba block.
The PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, was also said to have begun another plan to relaunch his ambition from Odogbolu, Ijebu division after Abiodun’s tenure from Remo division.
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