Trouble Looms As Assembly Says Aregbesola Must Defend Himself Against Impeachment Letter Recieved

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem
Salaam, said on Wednesday that the assembly had received a petition from
Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, calling for the impeachment of Governor Rauf
Aregbesola because of alleged financial recklessness.

Oloyede is a serving judge in the Osun State judiciary. The
judge’s petition read in part,

“Consequently, the
admitted inability of Mr. Governor and his deputy to pay pensions, salaries and
allowances for periods ranging from eight to 11 months now as a consequence of
their own decision to accumulate debts beyond the capacity of the state’s
internally generated revenue, whilst the very ‘actors’, Mr. Governor and his
deputy, continue to enjoy their security allowances in hundreds of millions, is
a violation of their oaths of office. Continue…

“Their action in this respect is as illegal as it is immoral
and unconscionable. It is an evidence of their inability to discharge the
functions of their office. There is therefore no legal or moral basis for their
continued stay in office.

“To this end and for this reason, I am sure other
well-meaning and concerned members of the Osun community are hereby calling on
honourable members of the state House of Assembly to pick up the gauntlet and
redeem themselves, by giving effect to the provisions of Sections 128 and 129
of the Constitution, which empower them to investigate and bring to justice,
all those who have corruptly enriched themselves at the expense of Osun and her
people.’’

Salam, who confirmed to a Punch correspondent in an
interview on Wednesday that the assembly had received the petition, said the
House would write a letter of acknowledgement to the petitioner and write the
governor to defend himself against the allegations contained in the letter.