The Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to appear before it next week. The lawmakers have accused the Governor of gross misconduct pertaining to the 2019 budget.
What led to the summons?
A committee set up by the assembly had discovered that some agencies of the government had allegedly begun implementing the 2019 budget.
Impeachment in the works?
Several of the lawmakers pointedly accused the Governor of commencing spending of the 2019 budget without approval.
Dayo Saka-Fafunmi in his view believed the Governor was guilty of gross misconduct, and as such resign or be impeached.
“All the violations amount to gross misconduct. Section 188 subsection defines gross misconduct. We strongly believe that essential services that ought to be met are missing in the state. I am in line with the statement and decisions of the members that if the executive members are not ready for governance, they should resign or should be impeached.”
Prior to this
The Governor had last year broken tradition when he failed to present the budget in person to the legislators. Rather, the 2019 budget was delivered to the legislators with a promise to address them at a later date.
Ambode had in September last year, lost the support of the assembly, when they declared their allegiance to Babatunde Olusola Sanwo-Olu. Sanwo-Olu eventually won the primaries of the All Peoples Congress (APC) as the gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
The back story
Unconfirmed reports, however, have it that the impeachment move was due to the Governor’s alleged support for a leading opposition party and possibility of the governor misappropriating funds. The legislators are also believed to feel slighted by the Governor’s action.
Implication
The tussle between both parties may lead to the suspension of work on several key projects in Lagos.
