By Adekola Afolabi
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Normalcy is gradually returning to Ondo State House of Assembly after three weeks of leadership tussle that engulfed the hallowed chambers.

The Hope gathered that some of the lawmakers who had hitherto left the Assembly in anger in the wake of the crisis have started returning to their offices.

The development was not unconnected with the intervention in the fracas by stakeholders and notable leaders within and outside the state.

Three weeks ago, the Assembly was engulfed in leadership crisis over purported impeachment of the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun and the deputy Speaker, Ogundeji Iroju, at a rowdy session on Friday November 9, this year.

The Speaker of the House, Bamidele Oleyelogun had last week announced the lifting of suspension order earlier placed on 15 members of the Assembly over their roles in the purported impeachment of the leaders of the parliament.

Speaking with The Hope yesterday in Akure, two of the aggrieved lawmakers who did not want their names in print disclosed that peaceful reconciliation was still ongoing and that they are ready to resume office and continue their normal legislative activities in the hallowed chambers.

They equally explained that the state governor is in the final stage of approving their constituency projects which will be in two batches.

Other largesse approved for the members of the Assembly by the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, as gathered by The Hope, is their official cars which they added was one of their main grievances.

It was gathered that the vehicles are now available for them.

“We have been in the Assembly for over three and a half years now and we have no constituency projects in our constituencies. Those who elected us see us as irresponsible lawmakers since we could not boast of any project in our name.

The constituency projects will benefit our people by the time we start them in our various constituencies. Then our people can feel our positive impacts and enjoy dividends of democracy.

“Before now, majority of the people in our constituencies believe that we have embezzled money meant for our constituency projects, not knowing that no project has been approved for us. If I can bring constituency project to my people it will benefit them and they will be happy with me as their representative.

“Apart from constituency projects, we have no official vehicle. We have been using our personal vehicles for official assignments since we came in over three and a half years ago, this is not supposed right. So, by the time all these issues are resolved, I believe things will be better”, one of the aggrieved lawmakers said.

Although report had it that some aggrieved lawmakers were being wooed with return tickets as a way of settling the matter, the lawmakers said there was nothing like that, noting that they were not fighting over the return tickets.

They confessed that their major grievances are official cars, constituency projects and some allowances.

 But another lawmaker loyal to Bamidele Oleyelogun disclosed that though the issues of official vehicles and constituency projects are part of the major issues, the last straw that broke the camel’s back was return tickets which they were not given.

 When contacted, the Speaker of the House, Bamidele Oleyelogun confirmed that official vehicles for the lawmakers are ready.