Abdulroheem Adebayo Adeleke Lawal, a politician, lawyer and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was, on Monday, sworn in as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State.
He replaced Rauf Olaniyan who was impeached by the House of Assembly earlier in the day.

Oyo State House of Assembly, on Monday morning, impeached the Deputy Governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, at its plenary.

Olaniyan was found guilty of all the allegations levelled against him following the reports of a seven-man panel constituted by the state Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola.

The Chief Judge had on Thursday constituted the panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the deputy governor by the lawmakers.

The panel was said to have began its sitting immediately and worked all through the weekend.

The House Majority Leader, Mr Sanjo Adedoyin, read the panel’s reports at the plenary.

The lawmakers, after considering the panel’s recommendations, pronounced the impeachment of the deputy governor and that it should take immediate effect.

The House had in June directed Abimbola to constitute a panel to investigate Olaniyan.

It served the deputy governor with a notice of impeachment over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, among others, following his defection from PDP to APC.

Fashanu, had also jointly taken the state House of Assembly; the Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin and Clerk of the House to court over the impeachment move by the lawmakers.

He said: “We appeal for an order of injuction restraining the respondents from enforcing or implementing the judgment on Thursday.

“This is pending the determination of the appeal lodged against the said judgment.

“It’s expedient that an order of injuction be granted so that the outcome of the appeal will not be rendered nugatory.”

Fashanu, however, stressed the need for Nigerians to respect the court processes, being the fundamental principles of the rule of law.

“It is no longer news that His Lordship went ahead to constitute the panel in spite of the clear notice of pending appeal and application for Stay of Execution.

“With Respect to His Lordship, the Honourable Chief Judge, as number one citizen in the Judiciary, should have respected the judicial process,” he said.

At the swearing in, held at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, were Governor Seyi Makinde, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin; Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola; Lawal’s wife,
Ajibola; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi; former Speaker of the House Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; members of House of Assembly and some Service Commanders, among others.

Makinde charged Lawal to see his position as a responsibility to deliver good governance to the people of Oyo State.
Lawal is a former Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the immediate past chairman of the state’s Housing Corporation.
Makinde admonished the new deputy governor to put the interest of the state first and serve the state diligently in his new capacity.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted him as saying that the Housing Corporation, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, (OYSTROMA) and the Ministry of Justice will be under the supervision of the new Deputy Governor.
The governor said: “I want to start by welcoming our new Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Barrister Bayo Lawal, to the Oyo State Executive Council.
“I know you operated from this Exco chamber from 1999 to 2003 and I am sure a lot of things have changed between then and now.
“As we all know, you are already a part of this administration as the chairman of the Oyo State Housing Corporation.
“Your new position is evidence that you excelled in your role. But for us, as the saying goes, the reward for hard work is more work, and that is why we are giving you more work.
“The position is that of trust. Our masters are the people of Oyo State and our responsibility is to continue to serve them to the best of our abilities and deliver good governance to them.
“Let me encourage you to put the interest of the people of Oyo State first. You will continue to supervise the Housing Corporation even from this position. Also, the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYSTROMA, will be under your direct supervision.
“Finally, you have operated as the Attorney-General of this state before. So, the Ministry of Justice will also be under your watch.
“Our people expect so much from us because to whom much is given, much is expected. This is the campaign season but here in Oyo State, we will continue to work for the good of our people throughout this season.”
The governor added that the administration is looking forward to benefiting from the wealth of wisdom and experience of the new deputy governor, so that together, they could continue the task of moving Oyo State people from poverty to prosperity.
“We look forward to benefiting from your wealth of wisdom and experience. This is what I say most of the time and this is what this administration is all about. We want to move our people from poverty to prosperity. So, you are welcome on board,” the governor added.
While speaking to newsmen shortly after the swearing-in cerrmony, Lawal appreciated Makinde for nominating him as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election, saying that his debt of gratitude is limitless.
“I have to give my gratitude to His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, who nominated me as his running mate towards 2023. My debt of gratitude is limitless.
“As you have witnessed this happen, I did not notice he was monitoring my activities as the chairman of the Housing Corporation, but it manifested today.”
He vowed not to abuse the privilege given to him as Deputy Governor, as according to him, the position of the Deputy Governor is meant to advise and assist the governor of the state and a trust to the constitution and the governor of the state.
“This is a challenge to me as a person and to all of us in Oyo State to cooperate, with the view of moving the government forward in all ramifications.
“We are already entering the campaign season but jumping into the season is not enough, we have to trace back to the last three years and see what has been achieved.
“So, this is what I have come on board to complement the already established achievements provided by this administration,” Lawal added.
Earlier, the House of Assembly approved the appointment of Lawal as the new Deputy Governor, following the impeachment of Olaniyan.
The approval followed the nomination of Lawal to the lawmakers for consideration by Makinde as replacement for Olaniyan.
Lawal, the Chairman of the State Housing Corporation had served as the state Attorney-General.

He hails from Kisi in Irepo Local Government area.

Lawal’s nomination is contained in a letter by the governor to the lawmakers, which was presented at the plenary.

The House had gone on a short recess shortly after the impeachment of Olaniyan as the deputy governor.

The lawmakers later reconvened about 12.15 p.m to consider the appointment of the new deputy governor.

The Speaker, Ogundoyin, while reading the letter from the Executive, said it was in response to an earlier letter sent by the lawmaker to the Governor dated July 18, informing him of the impeachment of Olaniyan.

Defending the nomination of Lawal, the House Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, said that the nomination should be favourably considered, approved and adopted in view of his antecedents in contributing to the progress of the state.

Seconding the motion, Kazeem Olayanju, representing Irepo/Olornsogo State Constituency, said that the House should confirm Lawal as the new Deputy Governor of Oyo State.

In his remarks, the speaker put the nomination to a voice vote, which went the ways of the “ayes”.

According to him, with the vote, Lawal has been approved as the Deputy Governor of the state.

The House, however, adjourned plenary until July 21.