Governor and legislators apologise over Ogun fracas

The crisis that erupted in the Ogun State House of Assembly which led to the suspension of some members has been settled.

The truce came at a peace meeting convened by the State Governor - Senator Ibikunle Amosun which was attended by all 26 members of the House of Assembly.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Hon. Remi Hassan said what transpired on the floor of the House offended the entire citizens of the State and apologised on behalf of his colleagues. “We are sorry because if this is the State where Chief Obafemi Awolowo hailed from and he ran the best of parliament back then in the 60s and 70s, it should not be such a State that would be an example of what is repugnant to acceptable norms in the legislature” Hon. Hassan said.

He described the State House of Assembly as one big happy family and noted that henceforth, the proceedings of the House would be conducted peacefully and in “the way it is supposed to be done in a good legislature with due process, rules and constitution and with acceptable conventions”

Also speaking, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Suraj Ishola Adekumbi said the crisis was quite unfortunate, but noted that with the meeting held, peace had eventually prevailed.“By the grace of God, as from today you will see us doing our legislative responsibility in accordance with the extant laws. Sincerely, we want to use this medium to apologise to the good people of Ogun State for what transpired at the chamber yesterday,” Rt. Hon. Adekumbi said.

On his part, Senator Amosun said that a State that produced many giants like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Wole Soyinka should not allow such a regrettable crisis to linger on unnecessarily. While apologising to the people of the State and lovers of democracy over the unfortunate incident, Senator Amosun described the resolution and truce reached among legislators as a perfect birthday gift to late Chief Awolowo who would have been 104 years  that day.

All the 26 lawmakers thereafter proceeded to the legislative chamber for the sitting of the day.