The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) has distanced itself from the ongoing crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly, warning individuals, groups, bloggers and media organisations against linking the commission or its leadership to the political dispute.
The warning came after the reports of a crisis in the 26-member Assembly over allegations surrounding the mismanagement of about N44 million reportedly released by OSOPADEC to the legislature.
The controversy had reportedly heightened tension among lawmakers, months after Speaker Olamide Oladiji survived an impeachment move allegedly initiated by some members of the House.
While some lawmakers were reportedly unhappy over the alleged handling and disbursement of the funds, the Speaker had dismissed the allegations as “sensationalised, malicious and entirely fabricated,” insisting that there was no leadership crisis in the Assembly.
In the latest development, the OSOPADEC Chairman, Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, in a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, Godson Ewata, said the commission had no involvement in the internal affairs or decisions of the state legislature.
According to the statement, all interactions between OSOPADEC and the House of Assembly were conducted strictly within the framework of constitutional provisions, statutory obligations and established administrative procedures, stressing that decisions taken by the legislature remained solely the responsibility of the Assembly.
”OSOPADEC has absolutely no role in the internal affairs of the Ondo State House of Assembly,” the statement said, warning that the commission would no longer tolerate falsehood, blackmail, character assassination and malicious propaganda targeted at the institution.
OSOPADEC said any further attempt to associate the commission with issues outside its statutory mandate would be regarded as a deliberate effort to mislead the public, damage its reputation and erode public confidence in its leadership.
The commission further stated that since the inauguration of the current administration under Poroye, it had faced repeated misinformation and unwarranted attacks allegedly designed to distract it from its developmental responsibilities.
Despite the alleged attacks, OSOPADEC said its leadership remained focused on delivering sustainable development projects and programmes across the oil-producing communities in Ondo State.
The commission warned that the publication or dissemination of false, defamatory or fabricated information could attract legal consequences, announcing that it would henceforth pursue all lawful remedies available to protect its institutional integrity and the reputation of its leadership
OSOPADEC urged all parties involved in the House of Assembly dispute to seek redress through appropriate constitutional and legal channels, while reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, the rule of law and sustainable development in the oil-producing areas of Ondo State.
