Impeachment: Lagos lawmaker cautions colleagues in Enugu, Niger

Mrs Omotayo Oduntan, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Thursday cautioned Enugu and Niger Houses of Assembly against impeaching their governors close to the end of their tenure. Oduntan (APC-Alimosho II) told newsmen in Lagos that the current impeachment process in the two states may hinder developmental programmes.

The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said that it was unfair for members of the house to focus on impeachment toward the end of their tenure. “Focusing on impeachment at the end of an administration can hinder the progress of the state.

“It is unfair to embark on any impeachment process at this present time; what should be uppermost in the minds of the legislators is the progress of the state and the interest of the people.

“So, if at the end, when we have less than a month to go, some houses of assembly decide to impeach their governors, it is not too good or not fair to wait so long,” she said. Oduntan described the actions of such members as legislative rascality, having waited for about four years before deciding on impeachment. Barely 23 days to the May 29 handover date, Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger and Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu are being threatened with impeachment by their Houses of Assembly.