APM Chairman Calls For Deputy Speaker’s Resignation Amid Misconduct Allegation

The Chairman of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), in Osun State, Mr. Wale Adebayo, has asked the Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Akinyode Oyewusi, to resign from office for allegedly breaching the Code of Conduct.

Adebayo, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, said Oyewusi breached the code of conduct by allegedly being a significant stakeholder in a company while he is still the deputy speaker of the assembly. 

The former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) stated that Raregeode, a company owned by Oyewusi was awarded a contract for the construction of a 44-span bridge across the Osun River and a dual 2-span bridge across the Erinle River at a financial cost of N3,937,072,827.00, as revealed. 

Maintaining that the CCB act is clear and unambiguous on such matters, Adebayo said: “The law says a public officer shall not engage in or participate in the management or running of any private business.”

He said he was deeply troubled by revelations regarding the deputy speaker’s alleged involvement in operating a company, against the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

The 2023 Osun Central Senatorial candidate of the APM said: “There’s no doubt that he (Oyewusi) used his influence as deputy speaker of the House of Assembly to ensure the contract was awarded to a firm he has an interest in.

“The deputy speaker has breached one of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and is not fit and proper to continue to hold that office, a gross violation of public service rules involving contract influencing.”

“He can only deceive the gullible with his rhetoric. The truth is, he used his office to secure a project for Raregeode Company Ltd., which he founded.”

Adebayo said Oyewusi’s action is a breach of Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which deals with conflict of interest.

“The section emphasised that a public official shall not put himself in a position where his interests conflict with his duties and responsibilities,” he stated. 

Adebayo noted that Governor Ademola Adeleke should be blamed for awarding contracts to cronies and associates, without recourse to existing rules.