7th September, 2010
Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr. Tunji Egbetokun has described his purported removal yesterday as the best comedy of the year.
The unperturbed Speaker told newsmen that the act could only be compared to the display of ‘Babasuwe’ and his likes on film set.
Describing the act as a big disgrace and the highest level of illegality, Egbetokun said the action was to scuttle the oncoming live television debate between the House of Assembly and the state government over the controversial N100 billion bond slated for tomorrow.
The Speaker described the G-9 lawmakers’ action as a mere waste of time, as everybody knew that what they put up yesterday in the chambers of the House was purely a ‘Baba sala’ act.
The minority members of the state House of Assembly had yesterday, announced the impeachment of Egbetokun, ‘electing’ Emmanuel Soyemi Coker from Odeda, as the new Speaker with Ayo-Odugbesan Edwards as the Deputy Speaker.
Bankole Durotolu Oyebode was picked as Majority Leader, Musa Moruf, Chief Whip; Abiodun Olusesi Moses, Deputy Majority Leader and Adeleke Salmon as Deputy Chief Whip.
The new ‘officers’ also went ahead to approve the controversial N100 billion bond which had been the bone of contention between the leadership of the House and the Gbenga Daniel-led government.
The Egbetokun-led G-15 who were announced to have been suspended indefinitely had been locked in a battle of wits with the state government since the change of guard in 2008 when the former Speaker, Mrs. Titi Oseni was removed.
While the state government had accused the G-15 lawmakers of being sponsored by external and internal forces in the ruling PDP and other parties, the lawmakers had alleged being deprived of funds for the day-to-day running of the House.
—Jide osokoya