The National Association in of Seadogs, aka Pyrates Confraternity, Ash Montana Deck has chided the Ogun State Assembly for postponing its sittings sine die over the arrest of the Speaker, Olukunle Oluomo by the federal anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, calling the action as abuse of public trust.
The Speaker was reported to have been arrested on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on a return trip from Abuja over allegations of embezzlement and forgery and later taken to the Abuja office of the commission for interrogation. Speaker Oluomo has since been released on bail and 11 counts charges filed against him before a federal high court in Abeokuta. The Assembly which was supposed to have a sitting that day postponed it and has not resumed plenary.
In a statement in Abeokuta by the Capoon of Ash Montana Deck of NAS, Mr. Ayodele Adebesin, the Association expressed dismay at the suspension of the sittings of the legislative arm of government in the state describing it as a breach of trust.
“As an organisation monitoring and promoting good governance and the development of democracy, we are dismayed by the news that the state’s legislature is shutdown over the arrest of the Speaker by a legitimate agency of government whereas the constitution is clear about what should be done in the absence of the principal officer when there exists a Deputy Speaker”.
“We view this as a breach of the social contract and arrant disrespect to the people of the various constituencies who repose legislative trust in the law makers. Suspending legislative activities over allegations bothering on corruption against a member of the house is a corruptible solidarity without circumspection and an expression of disdain and disrespect to the structure of government and the good people of Ogun State.”
The Association lamented what it described as a bad precedence that would not only make mockery of the State that claims foremost attainment in political education but equally send a wrong signal to the observing children who are leaders of tomorrow.
“We therefore call on the house to resume sitting immediately and tender unreserved apology to the good people of the State that they promised to serve.”
The Association concluded by asking the house to allow EFCC to do due and unhindered prosecution of all officers that were suspected to have been involved in the gravious allegations to wash the legislature clean of the unsavoury stain.
Ayodele Adebesin
Capoon Ash Montana, NAS