Akure – THE axe finally fell on the 73 year old deputy governor of Ondo state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi as he madehistory as the first politician occupying such an exalted position to be impeached in the 39 year old state. Ironically the sun has set on him in a state known as the Sunshine State.His fate was decided within one week and his political activism of over 40 years was rubbished by a seven man probe panel headed by a retired Chief Magistrate who found him culpable of all the seven allegations of gross misconduct slammed on him by the House of Assembly members. Popularly called “Jasper”. The former deputy governor according to political observers in the state was removed because he was “ too ambitious even at his age to become a governor by the back door”.Ondo State Governor, Olusegun MimikoHowever, while he licked his wound, fate smiled on another illustrious son of Akokoland who replaced him barely two hoursafter he was sacked by the State House of Assembly.Alhaji Lasisi Olugbenga Oluboyo 53years was a former Agriculture Commissioner until his elevation to the enviable position of the deputy governor according to one of his Directors in the Ministry was in one of the state government farms outside the state capital when a call was put through to him that his attention wasneeded at the state House of Assembly.Worried, he reportedly made some telephone calls but none of his friends could offer him an explanation for the urgent call from the Assembly.UrgentcallEven a telephone call to the member representing his constituency in Akoko North East in the House of Assembly who may leak the reason to him Hon Fatai Olotu could not connect. He was at the plenary discussing his nomination as a deputy governorship. It was when he got to the assembly that he knew thathis status was about changing for the better as members of the ruling PDP who had stormed the Assemblywhen they got the information cleared the way for “ His Excellency”.While fate smiled at Oluboyo. aka. “ Omo Oba” (Prince) the sun however set for Olanusi. As if that was not enough, another drama played out when Oluboyo was about to be sworn in as his former colleagues in theState Executive Council (EXCO) stood up to welcome the new Deputy governor. He quickly jumped to a seatreserved for him without waiting for them to exchange pleasantries with him. Tears of joy tickled down his cheeks and that of the wife, Alhaja Fatimat.All through the ceremony, he gazed at nothing in particular ostensibly unable to fathom his sudden elevation. The journey to nail the political coffin of Jasper started like a child’s play and by the time he realized that fire was on the mountain, it was too late for him. Political observers wondered why he did not resign after the coup he planned with others who had since abandoned him failed.It was believed that since his new Party-APC failed to secure their “dreamed majority” seats in the last House of Assembly election in the state, he would have saved himself the shame that his impeachment would have on his political garment by resigning, thereby beating those that were ready to put a knife into him from behind to their games.But Olanusi it was learnt was waiting for the right time to strike by halting the panel from submitting its report to the House of Assembly. It was another mis-calculation on the part of Jasper. As he was planning,those in the other camp were equally strategising on how to tidy up all loose ends and see the back of the deputy governor. Olanusi impeachment and replacement could best be described as well scripted movie byhis perceived enemies that hunted him till he finally fell.An impeachment notice was served,the Chief Judge of the state inaugurated a probe panel , it came out with its report after counsel of the deputy governor appeared before it, submitted its report to the House of assembly, a nominee was sent to the assembly for approval and confirmation and a new replacement was sworn-in. All these script lasted barely a week. Viewers were deprived of the drama that could have played out. No thanks to the deputy governor counsel, Dr Benson Enikuomehin who chickened out mid way into the main drama.Ali-Olanusi, Impeached Deputy-Gov.-Ondo StateBut the most surprising aspect of Olanusi travails was that not even his Muslim brothers and sisters within and outside the state rose to defend or plead for him. He fought alone within the state, even leaders of the APC in the state backed out of the scheme to oust the governor immediately his party (PDP) won 21 out of the26 seats in the state assembly leaving only five seats for the opposition APC.His backers mainly the leader of APC Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Osun state governor Rauf Aregbesola couldnot help him either. Even his juncketing from Akure/ Osogbo and Lagos States yielded no feasible results that could save him from the hang men. A leader of the party in the state confided in South West Voice thatthe impeachment of the Deputy governor “ is a lost battle” but we shall try our luck in the Court.Report had it that the APC leaders have contracted an erudite Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Oyo State Chief Adeniyi Akintola to dust the papers and challenge his impeachment in Court. Presenting the report to the assembly members,it’s chairman Mr Olatunji Stanley Adeniyan said that the deputy governor is culpable in all the seven allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him.Adeniyan declared that “ having found all the seven allegations established against Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the Deputy governor of Ondo State and placing reliance on the meaning of gross misconduct as defined in section 188 (11) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.“ We hereby find that the allegation of gross misconduct has been proved against Alhaji Ali Olanusi the holder of the office of the deputy governor of Ondo state of Nigeria. Following the submission of the report, the majority of the House Hon Ifedayo Akinsoyinu from Ondo West moved the motion for the considerationof the report and it was seconded by Hon Olatunji Dairo from Owo 11.After considering the report and relying on the conclusion of the probe panel that the deputy governor was culpable, Hon Akinsoyinu moved the motion for his impeachment and was seconded by Hon Aladetan Oyebo from Ilaje 11. Aladetan said based on the recommendation of the probe panel that indicted the deputy governor “ I am seconding the motion that he be impeached and removed from office forever”The speaker Rt Hon Jumoke Akindele therefore called for a voice vote and all the 22 Lawmakers that were present supported the impeachment of the deputy governor. Rt Hon Akindele ruled that since the deputy governor has been found culpable of all the seven allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him, he stands impeached and removed from the office.Removalfrom officeShe said that the Lawmaker have spoken with one voice which is beyond 2/3 majority. Adding that 22 members supported his impeachment. The speaker directed that all properties in the custody of the deputygovernor be returned with immediate to the Permanent Secretary in the office of the Deputy governor. “ The Permanent Secretary in the Deputy governor office is empowered to retrieve all the properties by all lawful means.The house later reconvened some hours later to consider a letter from the governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko on the nomination of a replacement to the impeached Deputy governor to avoid a vacum. After the letter was read by the Clerk of the House, the Speaker directed the House Committee on Selection to interface with the nominee.The committee led by the Deputy Speaker Hon Emiola Dare later met with the nominee for about 45minutes and reported to the plenary that the nominee is fit mentally and physically to occupy the position. Emiola added that Oluboyo is appointable, academically qualified and should be confirmed by theAssembly.The speaker said that following the recommendation of the selection Committee the nominee is hereby confirmed and ratified as the Deputy governor of the state after being properly and appropriately screened.
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