Sola POPOOLA
After days of siege,Ekiti State House of Assembly announced the election of new speaker and the removal of the Hon Gboyega Aribisogan.
The House also announced Hon. Bunmi Adelugba who earlier lost to Hon Aribisogan in the election held on Tuesday .
In the new arrangements, 17 out of the 25 members in the early hours of Monday impeached the former Speaker,Hon Aribisogan. Hon Adelugba who represents Emure State Constituency became the first female to occupy the seat.
Aribisogan, representing Ikole constituency 2, was last week elected to replace to deceased’s Speaker, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, who died a month ago.
In the plenary that lasted between 6.30am and 9.30am, the lawmakers impeached Aribisogan, while also suspending seven of his allies.
After departing from the Assembly, the lawmakers later visited the APC’s Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, to pay homage to the leadership.
Lawmakers present included: Hon. Toyin Lucas(Ado 1) Femi Akindele (Irepodun-Ifelodun 1), Hon. Teju Okuyiga(Gbonyin), Hon. Ayodeji Ajayi(ise/orun), Hon. Lateef Akanle(Ekiti East 2), Hon. Arugbo(Moba 2) , Hon. Babatunde Fawekun(Ido/Osi 1) Hon. Babatunde Joseph(Ekiti Southwest 2), Hon. Ademola Ojo(Ijero), Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye(Ikole constituency 2).
Others are; Hon Akin Oso(Ido/Osi 1), Hon. Reuben Awoyemi(Oye 2), Hon. Tunde Idowu(Ikere 2), Hon. Bode Oyekola(Ekiti West 2), the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Hakeem Jamiu, and the new Speaker, Hon Adelugba.
Addressing Journalists during the visit to the party’s Secretariat in Ado Ekiti to introduce the new leadership, Adelugba appreciated the party for not allowing its name to be dragged in the mud despite the tension elicited by the power tussle in the lawmaking chambers .
Adelugba said what transpired today at the assembly was the indefinite suspension of Aribisogan and six other lawmakers, for allegedly sabotaging the passage of the revised 2022 supplementary budget presented by the executive.
The lawnaker disclosed that all the standing committees of the House had been dismantled, while a new Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bode Oyekola, was elected to pilot the affairs of the House.
“We have also appointed a chairman, House Committee on Appropriation as part of what we did today at the plenary.
“Let me say that the Assembly is ready to pardon as many of them that are ready to join us. This is about the party and not the Assembly. The action we took today had nullified the first election that produced Aribisogan.
“In the last election, Aribisogan claimed that he had 15, but today, I have 17 lawmakers behind me. Many of the lawmakers said they didn’t vote for him, but he compromised the election” .
Speaking further, she said; “I thank our leaders, Biodun Oyebanji, Kayode Fayemi and Adeniyi Adebayo for playing strong leadership role. I want to say that this is the real members of the House of Assembly and we have chosen the real speaker.
“The late speaker was like a father to me, I will continue where he stopped. I want to assure you that you will enjoy the peace you enjoyed under the late Speaker”.
Aribisogan, who spoke in a television programme in Abuja monitored in Ado Ekiti, accused former Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of being behind the plot to make Adelugba Speaker.
He said, “When Fayemi called us to his residence and said he wanted us to support Hon Adelugba, I stood up to say that that could not be done by fiat or by imposition, that we have leaders that we had to consult and that we would get back to them. Ordinarily, we should be looking at the Constitution and the standing order of the House”.
According to Aribisogan, he still tried to reach Fayemi through text message on Saturday night, saying, “Up till now he has not done anything on it, but he has been calling our members to go and impeach me Monday. As I speak with you, seven of our members are locked up in a guest house in Ado Ekiti in cahoots with some of his former aides
“They don’t want democratic processes to take place in the Assembly and these people are even with arms, saying they are going to assassinate the speaker, take over the place tomorrow (Monday) morning.
“Majority of the members of the Assembly voted for me, but a few of them, who felt that perhaps I did not follow the directive of the former governor of the state felt that they will make the place ungovernable for my administration”.
Also APC State Chairman, Hon. Paul Omotoso, denied the accusation that former Governor Fayemi allegedly arm-twisted the lawmakers and imposed Adelugba, adopting a strong-arm tactics.
Omotoso said; “This is the happiest day of the party. We thank you for the way you conducted yourselves. Some believed the end has come to the House, but you were able to manage the crisis effectively. We read many things that people thought would demean our party. But you demonstrated that we can still have a strong House of Assembly after all this.
“Nobody ever imposed anybody on you. You are adults and enlightened people, very robust minds. Today, we are celebrating the return of peace in the House of Assembly. We do not want division. We will continue to play that fatherly role you have placed on our shoulders.
“With understanding, we will continue to resolve whatever crisis that comes to us as a challenge. Please, you have supported the last government and we want you to stretch same to the present government of Biodun Oyebanji”.