July 17th, 2007
Yemi Akintomide

Correspondent, Akure

Rather, according to Akinsiku, the opposition were interested in restoring sanity into the operations of the House.

Akinsiku, who represents Ondo West Constituency I, on the platform of Labour Party (LP), said the opposition members would continue to boycott the plenary session of the Assembly until the Standing Order is amended to reflect the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

A motion sponsored two weeks ago by Akinsiku had ignited the crisis in the House over the existing rules guiding the operation of the House.

He had called the attention of his colleagues to numerous constitutional deficiencies in the said standing order.

But Akinsiku said his aim in sponsoring the motion was not targeted at the Speaker as being speculated, pointing out that "but we cannot continue to support illegalities because the said standing order was made pursuant to Section 79 of the 1989 Constitution which has already been abrogated.

"All the past activities, including motions and resolutions of the House since inauguration on June 1, are illegal, null and void.

"The standing order is supposed to be our instrument of office to guide our conducts and dealings in the House; that was why a copy of the Order and the 1999 Constitution were handed to us on the day we took our oath of office", Akinsiku said.