By: Bola Ojuola, Akure.
A fresh political storm has engulfed the Ondo State House of Assembly over the alleged mismanagement of approximately N44 million released by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to the legislature.
The controversy, which has heightened tension within the 26-member Assembly, comes only months after the speaker, Olamide Oladiji survived an impeachment move by some lawmakers.
Multiple sources within the legislature alleged that the Speaker had come under pressure over the management of the funds, reportedly released by OSOPADEC for the benefit of all members of the House.
According to the sources, some lawmakers accused the Speaker of failing to carry members along in the disbursement of the money, a development said to have triggered fresh discontent within the Assembly.
The crisis, they noted, could also affect the position of Deputy Speaker, Ololade Gbegudu, while the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, may be redeployed.
One of the sources claimed the Speaker had considered stepping down on Monday ahead of a possible discussion of the matter during Tuesday’s plenary but was persuaded against the move.
“The Speaker contemplated resigning today but did not go ahead with it. The issue is connected to an alleged N44 million involving funds reportedly released by OSOPADEC to the Assembly. The money was meant for the entire House, but there are allegations that the Speaker did not carry other lawmakers along in handling the funds,” the source alleged.
Another source attributed the Speaker’s decision to remain in office to the intervention of a prominent political figure in the state, saying, “The Speaker wanted to resign today but did not eventually do so because of political intervention. We will see what happens tomorrow.”
However, Oladiji dismissed the reports as false and politically motivated. The Speaker in a statement described the allegations of a resignation plan, leadership crisis and mismanagement of OSOPADEC funds as “sensationalised, malicious and entirely fabricated.”
“We state unequivocally, without an atom of ambiguity, that Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji never contemplated resigning, nor is there any leadership crisis within the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly. The report is a total figment of the imagination of its authors and their nameless sources,” the statement read.
It further maintained that lawmakers independently determine and manage their welfare and resource allocations, insisting that the Speaker only receives what is constitutionally due to his office. It added that claims he sidelined members in the handling of any N44 million OSOPADEC fund were “a manufactured lie designed to create artificial disaffection where none exists.”
Speaking with journalists, Oladiji also dismissed claims that 21 lawmakers had demanded his resignation, saying, “I’m not aware of that.” He equally denied allegations linking him to an alleged assassination plot against a fellow lawmaker, insisting, “I’m a law-abiding citizen… I’m a Christian, I don’t believe in all that. Let her come up with evidence to confirm such allegations.”
Meanwhile, the crisis took another twist after the member representing Ilaje Constituency II, Hon. Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, alleged in a Facebook post that she narrowly escaped death following threats to stop what she described as her investigation into alleged bribery, forgery and corruption involving the Speaker and OSOPADEC.
The lawmaker accused the Speaker of attempting to intimidate her and reaffirmed what she described as the position of two-thirds of the House, urging him to resign or “face the consequences” of his actions. She also alleged that funds meant for her constituency were being diverted, vowing that she would not be intimidated.
