Budget presentation: Ondo youths block Mimiko

Some youths in Ondo State on Wednesday in Akure protested against Governor Olusegun Mimiko over planned presentation of the 2017 budget at the House of Assembly.
The protesters said the outgoing governor ought not to present the budget since his tenure in office would end on February 23.
Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of All Progressives Congress (APC) will be sworn-in as his successor on February 24.
The protesters, numbering about 200, stormed the Assembly complex on Igbatoro Road at 7 a.m, carrying leaves and placards with various inscriptions.
The protesters also blocked the main road leading to the Assembly complex preventing vehicular movement.
Some of the placards read: “ICPC and EFCC come to Ondo State’’, “Mimiko Don Carry our Money Go’’, “We Are not Slaves in Ondo’’, “Iroko Don’t Fool us’’ and “Ondo Youths Say no to Slavery’’.
Mr Adelokiki Orimisan, who claimed to be representing Coalition of Ondo State People, comprising different groups, alleged that Mimiko was trying to create a state of anarchy.
“Yesterday, we had information that Mimiko is coming today for presentation of 2017 budget and influence passage of 38 controversial bills which we are here to complain against.
“This is a total impunity which Ondo State youths will not tolerate because is an effrontery to the constitution of the state considering that his act may cause breach of peace in state,” he said.
According to him, one of the bills is to allow Mimiko to enjoy life pension benefit.
“Mimiko is influencing the House to pass a bill of Life Pension for himself and Act of Public Procurement which he did not present in the last eight years.
“He should have concentrated on smooth transition to the incoming Governor Rotimi Akeredolu,” he said.
Reacting to the peaceful protest, Mr Femi Joseph, the Spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, said that every Nigerian had right to protest, but the laws only abhor violent protest.
“They are doing it in a peaceful manner and police are not harassing nor molesting them.
“They are Nigerians and can express their grievance as long it did not degenerate into violence and we don’t have anything against that,” Joseph said.
Officials of the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Service (DSS) were stationed at the gates to the Assembly with Armoured Personnel Carrier and some security patrol vehicles.
Meanwhile, Mr Fatai Adams, the Deputy Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State, on Wednesday, urged aggrieved members of the House of Assembly to resolve the ongoing crisis internally.
A faction of the House suspended the Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, the Deputy Speaker, Fatai Olotu and Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, on Friday when the crisis ensued.
The crisis involved the alleged withdrawal of N15 million from the House account without the approval of the legislature.
Speaking in Akure  on Wednesday, Adams said the crisis was a house affair and should, therefore, be resolved internally.
“The crisis they are trying to manage is an internal issue and should be resolved within themselves.
“As a party leader, we are trying to settle their differences because we also have a PDP caucus in the house.
“It’s an internal crisis that is now trying to escalate,” he said.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, has called on the EFCC to arrest the principal officers of the state Assembly for interrogation.
Adesanya urged the EFCC to quiz the embattled Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, her Deputy Speaker, Fatai Olotu and the Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu in order to unravel the circumstances of the allegation.
The APC Publicity Secretary also said that the EFCC should widen its focus to cover other activities of the House under the present leadership.
The suspension of the affected members was carried out by 14 of the 26 lawmakers in the House, comprising of five All Progressives Congress (APC) and nine PDP members.