Soyinka, Bakare urge Jonathan to intervene in Ogun House crisis

By Dapo Akinrefon

NOBEL Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and the convener of the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, Pastor Tunde Bakare, yesterday, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the crisis in the Ogun House of Assembly.

Soyinka who was addressing a news conference organised by SNG, said the President should restore the matter to the path of legality and constitutionality.

He said: “The nation is bored by this kind of gerrymandering around the truth and legality. We are tired of the avalanche of impunities being experienced in the country. Anyone who keeps quiet at this point is equally guilty of treason
against the people.”

The Nobel laureate who said the impeachment of the Speaker was one of the crudest assaults on the nation’s democracy and an act of treason against the people, stressed that the first task before the lawmakers was to make peace with
the people they represented because “the people have been violated.”

The House was sealed on September 6 following a crisis which erupted when nine members sacked 15 members, including the House leadership. The group of nine members also approved the controversial N100 billion bond for the state and
passed the supplementary budget, among other resolutions.

Speaking at the briefing, Bakare observed that allowing legislative business to begin in the House would help preserve constitutional rule and ensure that the dangerous precedent did not stand.

He said: “The Speaker should be allowed to call a meeting of the whole House where all related issues can be resolved for a lasting peace in the House and the state at large.”

Bakare noted that the SNG’s intervention in the Ogun crisis was mainly on the side of the constitution and the rule of law, adding: “The contending groups came to us unsolicited and made their presentations.

“We have also met with the governor on the issue and resolved that the matter be settled within two weeks in the interest of democracy.”