Commissioner nominees: Ogun lawmakers shun Amosun’s emergency meeting

Nineteen members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, shunned an emergency meeting called by the leadership of the assembly to screen two commissioner-nominees.
The lawmakers had been on recess for almost a month and are expected to resume legislative business next week Tuesday.
The state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, sent the list to the lawmakers for consideration on Monday.
Only the Speaker, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi Ishola, and six lawmakers were at the assembly complex for the sitting.
One of the lawmakers, who does not want his name in print, said that they were absent apparently in protest against what he described as “unfair treatment” on the part of the governor.
He further told the Nigerian Tribune that they took the decision to protest the alleged failure of the speaker to properly represent their interest.
The lawmaker said: “The House has taken a new dimension; the matter is not an urgent one to warrant any lawmaker to come.
“We are not rubber-stamp and we are saying it clear. We have been on recess for about two weeks now and would resume on November 13.
“But because they believe we are rubber-stamp, that’s why they called us for emergency plenary. Any business of the House should be pending till the date of resumption from recess.
“Moreover, the Speaker has not been representing the House. On the welfare of members, he has not done anything but only interested in carrying out the orders of the governor, even at the detriment of the entire members.
“The governor has refused to comply with our welfare and we have endured for a long time. It is high time we fought for the interest of the House.”
Nigerian Tribune gathered that a text message was sent to the 26 lawmakers on behalf of the Speaker by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Muyiwa Adenopo, inviting them to the meeting.
The text message read thus, “ “Gd afternoon Sir/Ma, I am to confirm dat d plenary holds tmrw Tuesday 6 November 2012 by 11am. All inconveniences are highly regretted. Many thanks 4 d understanding and cooperation. Clerk 4 RHS.”
The meeting scheduled for 11am could not hold because those present did not form quorum.
As at 7pm when this report was filed, some lawmakers were holding a crucial meeting with the governor in his Oke-Mosan office.
It will be recalled that the governor on Monday forwarded the names of commissioners-designate to the House, following a minor cabinet reshuffle, which saw five commissioners swapping ministries.
Nigerian Tribune.