Ekiti Assembly Speaker, Why We Must Thread Softly

A Socio-political youth group under the aegis of “Ekiti League of Progressive Democrats” has called on Political stakeholders in Ekiti state to align with the interest and development of Ekiti along with the vision and mission of the State’s Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji in electing the leadership of the State House of Assembly for the sake of oneness, unity and development.

The National Coordinator of the League, Mr Mutiu Agboola, made the appeal in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, while reacting to questions from newsmen on how best to elect who should be the Speaker in the 7th Assembly.

Over the years, one has not noticed the kind of thoroughness, caution and maturity with which the leadership of the house is handling the search for it’s leadership, but surely along the interest of who is the number one citizen of the state.

“All members of the assembly are qualified and any of them can do better in leading the house, suffice to say that truly, Ekiti is a Fountain of Knowledge.

He commended the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for his high rating and outstanding performances with far reaching impacts in his 200 days in office.

Agboola, appealed to all residents in the state to put hands on deck to ensure that the acronym, the land of honour is upheld and make the state an envy in the comity of States.

According to him, there is the need to tell ourselves the truth at this point, that legislative and administrative experience is not limited to an inordinate ambition of an individual, rather should be broad based.

“All residents must ensure that all hands are on deck to support the vision and mission of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to make Ekiti a better place for all of us through his people-oriented programmes.

“We must also resist any attempt to clandestinely foist any unpopular individuals with selfish ambition as Speaker in the Assembly, hence election of speaker and deputy speaker shall be primarily from among the elected members as that is the provision of the constitution.

“Any other rules made for the convenience of the house that run contrary to the provision of the constitution can not be used to promote the inordinate ambition of anyone to disqualify other elected members, which apart from experience, quality of good conduct, character, Ekiti peoples interest and popular choice is important.

“Unless we want to deceive ourselves, Ekiti people are very much happy with the leadership style of the Governor, particularly his outstanding performance within last 200 days, which is highly commendable and unprecedented.

“Ekiti people, especially we the youths will not take lightly to any faceless individuals masquerading as groups to distract the governor from making a good and acceptable choice of Speaker for Ekiti House of Assembly,”he cautioned.

“We wish to say expressly with all sense of modesty that there is clear distinction between Oyebanji and past governors in terms of style, priority setting, approach to governance and leadership.

“It will gladden the heart of all Ekitis that the governor should continue with his people oriented agenda for shared prosperity, growth and development of Ekiti without any form of distraction.

“We promised to continue to support the governor and his administration as we equally call on all well meaning Ekiti sons and daughters of good conscience who genuinely desire good governance and a better Ekiti to join hands with Oyebanji who is already changing our narratives in an impressive ways.”

The political organisation wish to charge the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, under the State Chairman to work harmoniously with governor Oyebanji in the best interest of Ekiti, particularly, in the choice of those who will work with him in the fulfillment of his electoral promises which earn him the mandate of the people.

“We share Mr Governor’s avowed Vision of shared prosperity of Ekiti commonwealth for the benefit of all without fear or favour and It’s adherence to common understanding and practice that we know the Speaker of the Seventh Assembly will come from the North senatorial District of Ekiti State since the Governor and Deputy Governor are from the Central and South Senatorial Districts respectively.

“The search and choice of would be Speaker should consider personality with good character, competence, experience, general acceptability, track record of humility and ability to encourage and promote harmonious relationship not only among members but with the Governor without sentiment, divided loyalty and desperation.

“We say all the above without prejudice to Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which summarily provides and ascertain the equal rights of elected members of state Assembly to chose or be chosen as the Speaker or Deputy Speaker respectively among themselves rather than any skewed rules being applied when it pleases the whims and Caprices of certain anti democratic agents.

“We wish to advise the governor and the party to be careful of such anti progressive, desperate and inordinate ambitious political elements within the party working against the popular wish of the people.

“Mr Governor Sir, we know you as a man of integrity by good intent and purpose, and you are demonstrating this to the admiration of the people of Ekiti beyond political association and affiliation, the peace and tranquility in the land is truly an evidence that you are God sent with the popular votes of the people that made you the Governor and Leader of the State.

All positions in the House of Assembly belong to the party. It is therefore the prerogative of the party to narrow it down to any constituency after considering several factors.

The need for experienced Speaker is sacrosanct in other to pilot the affairs of the State perfectly well for smooth relationship between Executive and Legislative Arm government, earning sensible synergy for Governor Oyebanji’s led administration in passage of bills yielding dividends of democracy for the benefit of all and sundry in the State.

“We should therefore allow the Governor and other relevant stakeholders to bring their wealth of experience in the choice of a competent and partnering Speaker.”

He noted that the experience of who should lead the house is not limited to just level of government or governance.

“There is need for us to know at this point that Ekiti people have given their mandate to each of the members to represent them, we therefore need to subject ourselves to the authority of the elected members in choosing the house leadership to avoid crisis.

“We at this point need to queue behind the Governor in order to continue to enjoy the progress that he is bringing to the state. All hands must be on deck in our resolve to support for the governor, more so that Ekiti people are happier with the progress, not only in the state, but in the comity of states, particularly with his performance and attitude in leadership, governance and administration.”

The youth leader advised everyone to pocket their inordinate ambition and look in the direction of the governor in his bid to take the state to the next level and in its determination to make the state a envy of progress among other states in Nigeria.

“We, in the group feel that every Ekiti residents should be proud of the leadership style the governor is striving to provide with his level of understanding of Ekiti needs and peculiarities which is commendable.

“Within 200 days in office, he has extended hands of fellowship to all major stakeholders, irrespective of their political party, both in the opposition and the ruling party which is in tandem with his vision and mission for Ekiti people, particularly over his approach to governance.

“Going forward into the next dispensation of the assembly, the ideal candidate for the leadership should have a combination of competence, experience and capacity.

“Even as we are much aware that underground lobbying is ongoing, there should be an interplay of issues for consideration in the choice of house leaders with the hope that the mistakes of the past will be avoided.

“Part of the problems of the past was the inability of all stakeholders to build a consensus around the candidates that eventually emerged. Such ugly developments also created banana peels for those leaders and more problems for the executive, especially in getting his requests attended to on time, thereby causing unnecessary delay for the government and the governor in person.

“And those scenarios also precipitated unending conflicts of interest, with far-reaching implications on the putting together of legislation for the good of the state.

“Either due to the lack of interest, capacity or experience, the house may at the end found itself in a messy quagmire whenever the leadership that emerged was at variance with the wishes of the executive and party hierarchy.

“The action usually sour relationship between the Executive and Legislature that endured till the end of their tenure, hence all these much be avoided,” he said.
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