For hours on Friday, the Ondo State House of Assembly Complex in Akure was a theatre of war.
Despite the presence of policemen led by the Police Commissioner, Gbenga Adeyanju, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, and other security chiefs, hoodlums stormed the premises after the impeachment of the speaker and his deputy, Bamidele Oloyelogun and Iroju Ogundeji, to unleash mayhem.
The security chiefs did not bother to caution the hoodlums led by a popular commercial transporter in the state capital.
Many of the lawmakers, workers and journalists were injured.
Amid tension and exchange of blows, 18 of the 26 lawmakers had earlier impeached Oloyelogun and Ogundeji.
Olamide George (APC-Akure North Constituency) and Abimbola Fajolu (APC- Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Constituency) were elected to replace them.
Sunday Olajide (APC-Akure Constituency 2) moved the motion for the impeachment while Oluyede Feyide (APC- Ose Constituency) seconded the motion.
The changes were effected in a rowdy plenary session where former speaker, Princess Jumoke Akindele (APC-Okitipupa Constituency 2), was picked as Acting Speaker, prior to the emergence of the new leadership.
Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Bode Adeyelu, swore in the newly elected speaker and deputy.
In his inaugural speech, George said that the impeachment of Oloyelogun and Ogundeji was aimed at correcting certain lapses in the House, including misconduct, and not at witch-hunting anyone.
A few minutes after the impeachment, hoodlums brandishing guns, axes, cutlasses and sticks stormed the premises.
The policemen stationed to forestall any breakdown of law and order did not stop the thugs from invading the premises.
One of the injured lawmakers accused the Akeredolu-led administration of sending the thugs “to attack us”.
Fajolu, who was badly injured, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.
Some vehicles belonging to lawmakers, workers and journalists were damaged.
An unidentified official of the Department of State Security (DSS), the Director of Information Service (DIS) of the Assembly, Mr Seinde Fanokun, and a cameraman with Africa Independent Television (AIT), Mr Abiodun Taiwo, were also injured.
They were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Akure Annex.
When the thugs invaded the premises, George, the Majority Leader, Otunba Olugbenga Araoyinbo, Vincent Obadiah, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, Siji Akindiose and Malachi Coker, were having a parliamentary session in George’s office. The hoodlums forced their way into the office and descended on them.
Akinsoyinu was heard shouting ‘security, help us’ but no help came from the security agents stationed outside.
Oloyelogun and Ogundeji had tried to prevent sitting for the day but were resisted by the 18 lawmakers.
When Princess Akindele was presiding over the plenary in an acting capacity, Oloyelogun stormed the complex and threw her out of the chair.
He slapped her, tore her dress and removed her before sitting on the speaker’s chair.
Immediately, majority of the lawmakers led by George, Mukaila Ayinde Ajakaiye, Akinsoyinu and others rescued Akindele, pinned Oloyelogun to the wall and told her to continue with the proceeding.
He was still pinned to the wall when the 18 lawmakers impeached him and Ogundeji.
One of the 18 lawmakers, Fatai Olotu, accused Oloyelogun of financial impropriety, gross incompetence and high handedness.
Olotu also said Oloyelogun, Ogundeji, Prince Abayomi Akinruntan and Suleiman Jamiu Maito had been suspended indefinitely.
He declared: “Two-thirds of members of the Ondo State House of Assembly today removed the Speaker and his deputy over their incompetence to run the affairs of the House
“I want you to know that changing leadership is an inherent right of members of the House. The two officials have shown great incompetence in running the affairs of the House.
“They ran the House aground financially and committed a lot of financial impropriety that members can no longer condone.
“As at June this year, they have exhausted all the budgetary allocation for the house which runs to the tune of N1.5 billion without the knowledge of the House of Assembly”.
But, in a counter move, Oloyelogun announced the indefinite suspension of George, Fajolu and 14 other lawmakers.
