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Nigeria: Confusion As House Removes Ekiti Speaker


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This Day (Lagos)

9 July 2008
Posted to the web 9 July 2008

Toba Suleiman
Ado-Ekiti

Confusion enveloped Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday following the sudden removal of the Speaker, Hon. Femi Bamishile.

Bamishile, who had been embroiled in a conflict with some members of the House for some time now, is said to have been replaced by Hon. Tunji Oduyemi from Gbonyin Local Government area of the state.

The impeachment was allegedly effected by 18 lawmakers, namely 13 Action Congress (AC) and five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). AC and PDP have 13 legislators each in the House.

But Bamishile claimed last night that he was still in charge and that the process for the removal of a Speaker was very clear.

The impeachment which was dramatic had caught Bamishile unawares as he was totally in the dark until the move said to have been hatched over the weekend swept him off his exalted position.

Members of the House had earlier in the day attended a parliamentary session where issues of public importance were said to have been discussed, without any inkling of what was in the offing later in the day.

But around 2.40 pm, shortly after the session had ended, the lawmakers went into their chambers for the business of the day.

After a short prayer, Bamishile asked the Majority Leader, Hon. Layi Oke, to read the order of the day, which contained the House business for the day.

Trouble, however, started as Oke was about reading the order, which contained among other issues the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) Executive bill, the AC Leader in the House Funminiyi Afuye raised his hand for a matter of urgent public importance.

He was promptly recognised by Bamishile.

Afuye pointed out that there were issues which affected the person of the Speaker, such as what he called the Ife saga and the recent court's declaration that the composition of Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) was illegal.

What later emerged was a notice of a vote of no confidence in the Speaker.

In the notice, Afuye said: "Whereas every member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly swore to be of high moral background and impeccable character as a public officer, there have been recent damning reports in the press alleging that the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Bamishile, stole 19 extinguishers while he was a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in the 80s."

Following that revelation, Afuye said an ad hoc committee was set up to investigate the issue and other sundry matters that touched on the integrity of the Speaker.

"The committee has now submitted its report to the House, which indicted Bamishile to wit: that Bamisile was guilty of cheating in an examination.

"He was caught copying from prepared notes and bringing prepared answer script into the examination room," he said.

He said in view of all these and several other facts, the House therefore resolved that a prima facie case had been established against Bamishile.

"In order to protect the integrity of Ekiti State House of Assembly and the good people of the state known for honour and integrity, we, members of the House now resolve and be it resolved that a vote of no confidence is hereby passed on Hon. Bamishile.

"He is hereby removed and impeached as the speaker of Ekiti State," he said.

As he handed the document to the clerk, Mr. Ojo Fashiku, a big uproar suddenly engulfed the House.

Amidst the confusion, Hon. Bisi Kolawole from Efon-Alaaye and Hon. Ayodele Michael from Oye 1 opposed Afuye's move, declaring it null and void.

According to Kolawole, the notice of impeachment was not properly served on the Speaker, adding that Afuye was wrong to have invoked an order of urgent public importance, rather that a point of order.

Michael said the issue was not discussed at the parliamentary session, so it could not have come up on the floor of the House.

It was at that point that Deputy Speaker, Hon. Femi Adeoti, nominated Hon. Odeyemi from Gboyin Local Government as the new Speaker.

At this point, there was no longer order in the House.

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Afuye charged forward to remove the mace placed in front of the clerk while another PDP member rushed towards him to rescue the mace.

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