••• APC: it’s a poor script by governor

Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, has denied allegations that he received money from All Progressives Congress (APC) proxies to facilitate the impeachment of Governor Seyi Makinde, describing the claim as false and politically-motivated.

Reacting to the allegations, the Speaker said no money exchanged hands at any meeting, adding that the rumour was fabricated to tarnish his image and destabilise the state government and legislature.

“I was presented with juicy offers and opportunities, but I declined without hesitation because nothing can sway my conscience or weaken my loyalty to the governor, the party, and the people we were elected to serve.

“I remain fully committed to upholding the integrity of this House and will not be part of any agenda aimed at destabilising the government we built.”

Ogundoyin stressed that he would never betray the mandate of the people or undermine Governor Makinde’s administration.

He reaffirmed his loyalty to the governor and the ruling party, and assured people that no one would succeed in driving a wedge between him and the administration or derail the collective mandate they were elected to uphold.

On a separate claim linking his visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to political scheming, the Speaker clarified that the visit was purely consultative and took place weeks earlier before his consultation.

APC in Oyo State has described the reported impeachment plot against the Governor. Makinde as a badly written script aimed at distracting the public.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Olawale Sadare, APC alleged that the purported script was also meant to attract undue sympathy to the governor, who faced imminent political retirement as a result of his own actions.

Sadare said some members of the House of Assembly believed to be loyal to the governor came out yesterday to deny their involvement in a purported impeachment plot.

He said the lawmakers claimed that the impeachment plot was allegedly sponsored by some personalities, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Oba Ladoja and former Oyo State governor’s wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi.

“Oyo APC dismissed the alleged involvement of President Tinubu and others whose names were mentioned in the unsubstantiated claims,” the spokesman said. (The Guardian)