Courting Emergency Rule In Ogun

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The political crisis in Ogun State took another dimension on Tuesday this week, when the  G-15 lawmakers held their sitting in a school in Ijebu East Local Government Area. During  the sitting, the G-15 lawmakers led by the Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun, nullified all the  decisions taken by the G-9 lawmakers, led by Emmanuel Soyemi Coker on 6 September during  their kangaroo sitting after they broke into the chambers of the House and used a local  government mace to conduct their business.

Also during Tuesday’s sitting, the G-15 lawmakers declared the seats of two lawmakers, Titi  Oseni, the suspended former speaker and Omosanya Solaja vacant. They also accused Governor  Daniel of “aiding and abetting illegality in the state for non-compliance with state laws  and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” They proceeded to pass a vote of  no confidence on the governor. The G-9 lawmakers also countered the resolution of the G-15  members, describing it as an illegality.

Athough the presidency has tried to call the warring parties to order, with the governor and  a stalwart of People’s Democratic Party in the State and Minister of Commerce and Industry,  Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, holding a closed door peace meeting for over five hours, the  crisis appears to be getting out of hand.

Many are wondering why President Goodluck Jonathan cannot order policemen to provide  security for the G-15 members to sit in the chambers of the House. Is it until the crisis  snowballs into a conflagration before sanity will be restored in that state? Why negotiate  on an issue that is clearly constitutional? Has the Nigerian Constititution become a  document that should be obeyed when certain people feel like doind so? The dithering by the  President and the PDP leadership suggests that they consider the constitution a fluid  document.

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Every negotiation and peace meeting should have come after ensuring that the Constitution is  adhered to. What we are likely to see is bloodshed.

Ogun State which used to be one of the most peaceful states in the country has not known  peace since 2008, when Titi Oseni, a Daniel loyalist, was removed as speaker. Since then the  state has become a national laughing stock as it has been gravitating from one crisis to  another. In the process, good governance has been paralysed in the state. It is unfortunate  that a state that has produced the likes of Obafemi Awolowo, Bisi Onabanjo, Wole Soyinka,  Olusegun Obasanjo, Simeon Adebo, the Ransome-Kutis, etc. has become the battle ground for  politicians to test their might.

We expect eminent sons and daughters of the state to rise with one voice and say enough is  enough to the barbaric conduct of shameless politicians masquerading as leaders.

A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

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