Crisis is brewing in the Ondo State House of Assembly over allegations surrounding the management of about N44 million reportedly released by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to the legislature.
The development has reportedly heightened tension among lawmakers in the 26-member Assembly, months after Speaker Olamide Oladiji survived an impeachment move allegedly initiated by some members of the House.
Multiple sources within the Assembly alleged that the Speaker had come under pressure over the handling of the funds, which they claimed were released by OSOPADEC for the benefit of members of the House.
According to the sources, some lawmakers were unhappy that the Speaker allegedly failed to carry them along in the disbursement of the money, a development said to have renewed discontent within the Assembly.
The sources also claimed that the controversy could have implications for the offices of the Deputy Speaker, Ololade Gbegudu, and the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, who may reportedly be redeployed.
One of the sources alleged that Oladiji had contemplated resigning on Monday ahead of a possible discussion of the matter during Tuesday’s plenary but was persuaded against the move.
”The Speaker contemplated resigning today but did not go ahead with it. The issue is connected to an alleged N44 million involving funds reportedly released by OSOPADEC to the Assembly. The money was meant for the entire House, but there are allegations that the Speaker did not carry other lawmakers along in handling the funds,” the source alleged.
However, Oladiji dismissed the reports as false and politically motivated, describing the allegations of a planned resignation, leadership crisis and mismanagement of OSOPADEC funds as “sensationalised, malicious and entirely fabricated.”
In a statement, the Speaker said, “We state unequivocally, without an atom of ambiguity, that Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji never contemplated resigning, nor is there any leadership crisis within the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly. The report is a total figment of the imagination of its authors and their nameless sources.”
The statement further maintained that lawmakers independently determine and manage their welfare and resource allocations, insisting that the Speaker only receives what is constitutionally due to his office.
It described claims that he sidelined lawmakers in the handling of any N44 million OSOPADEC fund as “a manufactured lie designed to create artificial disaffection where none exists.”
Meanwhile, the member representing Ilaje Constituency II, Hon. Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, alleged in a Facebook post that she narrowly escaped death following threats allegedly connected to her investigation into alleged bribery, forgery and corruption involving the Speaker and OSOPADEC.
She also accused the Speaker of attempting to intimidate her and alleged that funds meant for her constituency were being diverted.
Speaking with journalists, Oladiji denied reports that 21 lawmakers had demanded his resignation, saying, “I’m not aware of that.” He also denied allegations linking him to an alleged assassination plot against a fellow lawmaker, insisting, “I’m a law-abiding citizen. I’m a Christian, I don’t believe in all that. Let her come up with evidence to confirm such allegations.”
