FUNKE ODUWOLE

The motion for Pelumi’s impeachment which was moved by the Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo and seconded by Hon. Adefarasin Hassan was endorsed by 33 out of the 40 member house.

But news of the House proceedings jolted Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was attending a book launch commemorating the 60th birthday of Professor Segun Gbadegesin at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on Victoria Island, Lagos.

After receiving a telephone call apparently on the impeachment, Tinubu stormed out of the venue and for about 20 minutes when he returned to his seat looked distraught.

Later at a press briefing the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Babajide Omoworare, said that the Speaker was impeached because of the need to reposition the House.

According to him, the goal of the House is to deliver selfless service to members of the public, adding "I am not aware if the former Speaker was not representing the interest of the House properly, section 92(2)(c) does not state that a reason must be stated for an impeachment of the speaker, I don’t think there is a provision for such."

"Our desire is to reposition the House, we will always collaborate with the executive arm of government, but the separation of powers will always be maintained."

However at the House session which commenced at 2.10 p.m lasted for 45 minutes and had virtually all the lawmakers in attendance.

The atmosphere was charged upon the commencement of session, with a fresh allegation of impospriety and financial misconduct being levelled against the former Speaker.

He was accused of misappropriating the sum of N12 million earmarked for the House members for Christmas by Gov. Tinubu.

Immediately after reading out the alleged misdemeanor of the former Speaker, by the Clark of the House, the lawmaker passed a vote of no confidence on him and voted for his impeachment.

The Clark said the lawmakers’ action was backed by Section 92, 2 (c) of the 1990 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Swiftly, the motion for the election of a new Speaker was moved and seconded by Hon. Bolaji Ayinla and Hon. Otonyan Bamgbose respectively. The session was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Farouk Adegboyega (Oshodi).

However, there were arguments and counter arguments among the lawmakers before they finally agreed to call for nomination for the post of the Speaker which they said they had waited to effect in the past two years and seven months.

The deputy Speaker before the election reminded the House that the speakership was zoned to Epe Constituency which made it possible for Hon. Jokotola Pelumi to emerge as the Speaker. So he urged the honourable House not to look elsewhere but follow the zoning arrangement.

There was no counter motion against the nomination of Adeyemi Kuforiji from the House members.

Kuforiji in his acceptance speech thanked the members for the confidence reposed on him and the trust they have in Epe Constituency where they had elected a new Speaker for the second time in the last two and half years.

"As you have decided to put the task on my shoulder, please, in the name of Allah, come together and give me your cooperation and support," he said.

According to him, a "speaker must not be lord of the manor but a servant of the House, and at best to preside over the activities of the House". He assured them that within the next three months the House will witness positive changes.

Hon. Jokotola Pelumi was absent during the session.

Meanwhile, Gov. Bola Tinubu was jolted by the action of the House members. The governor was at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) attending the book launch commemorating the 60th birthday of Prof. Segun Gbadegesin when the impeachment took place.

He rushed out of the hall when the news got to him, made some phone calls ostensibly to stop the move.

He later rushed back to the Government House. But the deed had already been done.