Protesters Attack Mimiko’s Convoy over State Assembly Crisis

NLC tells Ondo assembly workers to shun offices

James Sowole

The siege on the Ondo State House of Assembly by protesters to prevent the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, from presenting the 2017 appropriation bill to lawmakers almost turned confrontational yesterday as protesters attacked the governor’s convoy.

The protesters, who has gathered at the assembly’s junction near the Ministry of Women Affairs at Alagbaka area, rushed to the main road on hearing the siren of the pilot cars leading the governor’s convoy.

THISDAY learnt that the governor, who was billed to inaugurate a mega school at Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area, led a visitor on an inspection of the new state event centre, “The Dome” in preparation for its official inauguration later this month.

“You know that anyone that wants to drive to the Dome must make a U-turn at the assembly junction before going to the event centre.

“The protesters who had been there to prevent the governor from going to the assembly, saw the convoy and rushed towards the vehicles.

“They thought Mimiko was going to the assembly and they wanted to stop him.

“All other vehicles in the convoy have gone but the ambulance which was the last, was attacked and had part of its side mirror affected.

The eyewitness said though the governor saw all that happened, he gave instructions that the protesters should be left alone even as they blocked the entrance on his way out of the dome.

He said the demonstrators ran away when security men in the convoy came down to clear the way.

The source said the governor left the area Ore where he was scheduled to inaugurate the mega school project.

Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that the Commissioner of Police for the Ondo State Command, Mrs. Hilda Ibuforo –Harrison, directed that workers of the assembly should vacate the premises until further notice.

However, the 13 aggrieved lawmakers led by their Speaker, Hon Malachi Coker, continued their siege on assembly as they gathered to claim the leadership of the assembly.

The visitor that Mimiko led on inspection of the new state event centre “The Dome “was Mrs. Tokunbo Awolowo -Dosumu, who was invited as a special guest for the inauguration of Mega Primary School at Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) late yesterday directed civil servants working in the Ondo State House of Assembly to stay away from the assembly complex indefinitely, sequel to the lingering crisis rocking the legislative arm of government.

The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the state chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Comrade Araulene Felix.

Felix directed all assembly workers to stay away indefinitely from the assembly until enabling environment for work is provided and security of its members could be guaranteed.

Stating that the resolution was in line with the directive of the organised labour under the leadership of the NLC, TUC and NLC, (PASAN) noted that its members are civil servants who have nothing to do with the crisis in the Assembly.

He added the workers would not be recalled until the assault on the Paymaster of the Assembly , Mr Adesina Makanjuola is addressed.

“Until normalcy is returned to the complex, all workers under the leadership of PASAN are to stay away indefinitely from the Assembly Complex,” he said.