Najeem Salaam, the Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 confirmed that the Assembly had received a petition from Justice Folahanmi Oleyede, a serving judge in the Osun State Judiciary, which called for the impeachment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for alleged financial recklessness.
The judge’s petition read, “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.
“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.’’
According to the PUNCH, the Speaker while confirming the receipt of the letter in an interview, averred that the House would acknowledged the petition by writing a letter to Justice Oloyede and also write to Governor Aregbesola to defend himself against the allegations in the petition.
The Speaker said, “Yes, we received the petition and we acknowledged it. But there is nothing we can do now because of the strike. Workers’ strike is affecting our sittings.
“We will send a copy of the petition to the governor for his defence. We will deliberate on it by the time the strike is over.”
In another of interview, The House Clerk, Mr. Oyeniran said that they had indeed received the petition and are currently working on it.
The House Minority Leader, Mr. Oladejo Makinde, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however denied any knowledge of said petition but asserted that when the lawmakers resumed sitting, the House would deliberate on it.
