Ondo Assembly May Recall Akinsoyinu, Others On Tuesday

By Doyin Adebusuyi - 29.03.2008

There are strong indications that the Ondo State House of Assembly may recall the three lawmakers suspended by the House on Tuesday.

The three lawmakers – the Minority Leader, Hon. Dayo Akinsoyinu; Hon. Afolabi Akinsiku and Hon. Abiodun Ogunbi, the only member of the Alliance for Democracy in the house – were suspended indefinitely following the commotion on the floor of the house on December 4, last year.

Ogunbi, it will be recalled, slumped after receiving a deadly blow from another member of the house. He was, however, resuscitated at a nearby hospital where he was rushed to for medication.

Akinsoyinu had objected to the inclusion of items 6A and B in the Order Paper for the day. Item 6A contained the submission of report by the selection committee on the governor’s nominees for the chairman and commissioners of the State Independent Electoral Commission.

Item 6B consists of the governor’s nominees for ODIEC. Immediately the objection was raised, the Speaker, Hon. Bakkita Bello, said the house had no power to debate on an issue already in court. He said doing so would be prejudicial, adding that they were lawmakers and not law breakers.

However, the development forced all the 10 lawmakers in the house to object to the Order Paper, stressing that until items 6A and B were expunged, the house would not deliberate on any issue.

No fewer than five other members were also injured in the commotion. It was alleged that the suspended lawmakers were the cause of the commotion.

A source told our correspondent on the phone that the house would sit on the case of the affected lawmakers on Monday with a view to recalling them on Tuesday.

The source, who condemned the action of the house dominated by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, said there could never be a virile democracy without strong opposition.

He advised the state government to allow “constructive opposition” in order to ensure good governance.

When contacted, Akinsoyinu, who is a member of the Labour Party, neither confirmed nor denied the story. He said, “We are hearing something like that.”