Our lives under threat – New Ondo speaker , deputy

George, who represents Akure North, became the speaker of the Assembly, following the impeachment of the former speaker Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun, and his deputy Iroju Ogundeji on Friday. Abimbola Fajolu, representing Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo, became the new deputy speaker. Shortly after Oloyeloogun, and Ogundeji were impeached, suspected members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state allegedly invaded the House and attacked the lawmakers. Some of the Assembly workers and journalists were also reportedly attacked. George, who spoke with journalists, alleged that the former speaker and his deputy were impeached over gross misconduct, financial recklessness, abuse of power and incompetence in running the affairs of the House. He alleged that some people had been threatening his life and family since Friday. Also, Fajolu, who claimed that his life was under threat, called on the IG to redeploy the state Commissioner of police, Gbenga Adeyanju, who he accused of bias, from the state. George said “We are duly elected members of the state Assembly acting within the confines of the constitutional duties at plenary.” The speaker, who alleged that thugs led to the Assembly by a leader of the NURTW assaulted lawmakers in the presence of the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Ade Adetimehin, and the CP, said there was documentary evidence of the alleged destruction of cars and properties worth millions of naira by the hoodlums. Meanwhile, the APC in the state has denied any involvement in the crisis in the Assembly. In a statement by spokesman for the APC in the state, Alex Kalejaye, the party said the chairman was only at the Assembly to only pacify the lawmakers The statement read, “His (chairman) intention was to explore ways to pacify aggrieved members and ensure that the situation did not degenerate to an ugly scene. Unfortunately, he was rebuffed by some members, who actually assaulted him, saying it was purely a party affair. “It is disheartening that hoodlums would invade the hallowed chamber of any Assembly and harass members. No government would condone such behaviour.” Spokesman for the police in the state, Femi Joseph, said, “We did not aid the crisis. Our responsibility is to move in whenever we discover that the peace of the state or the country is being threatened and that is exactly what we did on Friday. The commissioner did and cannot lead thugs to the House.”]]>