Friday, 01 March 2013 00:00

Written by Kunle Olayeni

The Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday erupted into a rowdy session over attempt by the Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi, to manipulate the process of the composition of the legislature's Tender's Board.

The board became imperative following the recent quizzing of the Speaker by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged inflation of contract for the supply of 28 cars to the members and principal officers of the House.

In fact, the anti-graft agency had recommended the setting up of the board to ensure due process and check gross abuse in the award of contracts.

But at a plenary session in Abeokuta on Thursday, the report of the House's Select Committee which allegedly constituted the tender's board members was presented for the lawmakers' approval.

The report indicated that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Tola Banjo, was allegedly imposed by the Speaker as the tender's board chairman.

The Speaker doubles as the chairman of the Select Committee.

The Nigerian Compass, however, observed that the choice of Banjo, described as an ally of Adekunbi, drew the ire of many members who vowed to resist it.

The lawmakers were also apparently uncomfortable with the alleged desperate attempt by the Speaker to hijack the selection process.

Following an uproar from members, the Speaker called for a voice vote on whether to accept or reject the report of the Select Committee.

The voice vote, however, indicated a rejection of nominees of the tender's board by the members who demanded a fresh nomination.

Sensing danger, Adekunbi promptly used veto over the dissenting lawmakers who were apparently in the majority.

The development did not go down well with the lawmakers.

At this point, a member of the House, Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, raised a Point of Order.

Adeleye-Oladapo, representing Ifo II State Constituency, specifically cited Order 40 of the House Rules which stipulates that any lawmaker can call for "division" in the event that a voice vote does not reflect the true position of voting pattern.

Division, according to legislative parlance, is the actual voting. But the Speaker refused, leading to tension on the floor of the House.

Apparently to prevent the charged atmosphere from further degenerating, Adekunbi ordered the Majority Leader, Israel Jolaoso, to move the motion for adjournment.

Jolaoso complied and the House adjourned proceedings till Tuesday.