AS security operatives foiled the mass action by civil organisations by arresting the convener of the protest, Comrade Mashood Erubami who is the Campaign for Democracy (CD) president, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, declared on Monday that he was not involved in the planned mass protest. Professor Soyinka’s name had been included in the list of those activists that would participate in the mass protest.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the CD president was whisked away by security operatives at Agodi near the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) office where the protesters had converged to mobilise for the protest. But Professor Soyinka, who had been expected to join the protest, was called on telephone by newsmen when they did not see him and he declared that he did not know anything about the rally. “Don’t mind them, there is a lot of exaggeration. I came from Enugu yesterday (Sunday). Although, at the Citizens Forum, we support the march, I am not personally involved. “I don’t know anything about the rally, they are only using my name. I am not personally involved,” he told newsmen on the telephone.
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In another development, the Oyo State House of Assembly on Monday approved the appointment of Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi, the Personal Assistant to Chief Lamidi Adedibu, as the deputy governor of the state, just as the Clerk of the House, Mr. Okesipe Okesola, testified that the authentic mace of the House was not used by the G-14 lawmakers. He was subsequently sworn in as the Deputy Governor. The appointment and approval of Alhaji Gbolarumi followed a letter forwarded to the House and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, on behalf of the governor, seeking the approval of the House to appoint Alhaji Gbolarumi as his deputy. The letter and another one, for the approval of 10 special advisers for the governor, Otunba Bayo Alao-Akala, were read by the Majority Leader, Hon. Abiola Ayorinde, on the floor of the House, but that of the 10 special advisers was approved with dispatch while deliberations on that of the deputy governor were deferred till after the recess. Coming back from about 30-minute break, the G-18 lawmakers who wore identical clothes of white lace materials with caps to match, considered the report of the panel set up to look into the credentials of Alhaji Gbolarumi. At the resumed sitting of the House at 12.30 p.m., the three-man committee read the report of the screening.
The leader of the committee, Hon. Abiola Ayorinde, said that Alhaji Gbolarumi obtained an Ordinary Level GCE Certificate (‘O’ level) in 1974 while he also obtained the Advanced Level Certificate in 1975. The committee, therefore, recommended that the House should accept the report and approve the appointment of Gbolarumi as the new deputy governor. The Chief Whip, Hon. Mufutau Ogunremi, moved for the adoption of the report which was seconded by Hon Olawale Atilola. Discussing the report on the floor, Hon. Akinrinade noted that there was nothing ambiguous in the recommendation as regards the eligibility of Gbolarumi as the deputy governor. Quoting Section 186 of the 1999 Constitution, he said Gbolarumi had the necessary prerequisite for the position of a deputy governor, adding that in compliance with Section 177 of the constitution, he was qualified to be the number two man in the state. Hon. Ogunremi, therefore, moved the motion for the adoption of the recommendation while Hon. Fajinmi seconded it.
The acting speaker, Hon. Taiwo Oluyemi, while stating that the recommendation of the report be accepted by the House, directed the state acting chief judge and the governor to ensure that Alhaji Gbolarumi was sworn in as the new deputy governor without any further delay. Before the House went on break, 10 special advisers were approved for the governor as requested by him. This followed a motion moved by Hon. Oye Akinrinade from Akinyele II constituency and seconded by Hon. Adekunle Fajinmi that pursuant to section 196 (1)(2)(3) of 1999 Constitution, the position of the deputy governor should be filled since the erstwhile deputy governor, Otunba Alao-Akala, has become the governor. The House also resolved under matters of urgent public importance that all the proceedings of 14 lawmakers, particularly that of December 13, 14, 20 and 21, be expunged from the record of the House because they were taken under a fake mace, while it also resolved that decisions and resolutions of G-18 be made the authentic proceedings and directed the clerk of the House to do so. Hon. Akinrinade moved the motion, while Hon. Fasola Ebenezer Olubowale from Ibadan North East 1, seconded it, citing sections 98(2) and 95 for disciplinary measures against the other group if found wanting by the committee set up to look into the allegation. It was at this juncture, the Clerk of the House was called upon to come and tell the House which of the two maces used by the two groups was the authentic mace. The Clerk of the House, Mr. Okesola, who was put on oath, was tactical in answering the question, as he first went into history how the mace was taken to the state police headquarters for keeping after the September 15, 2005 sitting of the House, which resulted in the division of the House, following the appointment of a new deputy speaker. After much persuasion which did not yield the desired result as Mr. Okesola could not give a definite answer, Hon. Ahmed Eesuola, representing Atiba, asked the clerk to tell the House whether the mace in front of him was the one used by the G-14 during their proceedings, to which the clerk answered in the negative. A three-man committee was, therefore, set up to look into where the G-14 lawmakers got their mace and what led them into parading “a fake mace.”
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The committee, made up of Hons. Abiola Ayorinde, Mohammed Irakoju and Olu Oyeleye, was asked to submit its report on Tuesday (today). Meanwhile, the 18 lawmakers said that they stood by their decision of January 12, 2006 on Senator Ladoja’s impeachment in spite of whatever anybody might have said. Speaking under motion for adjournment, the lawmakers noted that the law was their strength and said comments thereafter had nothing to do with them. The acting speaker, Hon. Taiwo Oluyemi, commended the lawmakers for being brave for “challenging what is not just.” The swearing-in ceremony of the new deputy governor, Alhaji Gbolarumi, took place at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, amid a throng of chieftains and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, including Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, Brigadier-General Raji Rasaki (rtd), Senator Teslim Folarin, Hon. Taofeek Arapaja, Elder Wole Oyelese, Dr. Gbenga Babalola, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Saka Balogun, as well as other top members and key officers of the party in the state. At 3.40 p.m., Governor Bayo Alao-Akala administered the oaths of office and allegiance to Alhaji Gbolarumi, who he described as “a thoroughbred politician who had worked assiduously for the success of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. “In consonance with the provision of the Constitution of Nigeria of 1999, that when a vacancy occurs in such circumstances, the executive governor will appoint a deputy governor. With the approval of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Gbolarumi has been appointed,” the governor asserted. Describing the new deputy governor as “a man of high integrity and of an impeccable character,” Governor Alao-Akala said “while congratulating you on this well deserved appointment, I wish to emphasise that your appointment is a call to duty and not for personal aggrandisement and pecuniary considerations.” He, therefore, charged the new deputy governor to dedicate his service to the well-being of the people of Oyo State, adding that he should endeavour to co-operate with other members of the state executive council so as to facilitate a new lease of life for the people of the state. While stating that the task ahead of Alhaji Gbolarumi as the deputy governor was enormous, the governor asserted that, “with courage, determination, tenacity of purpose and the will to succeed, you will make a success of the assignment.”
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