Ekiti set to resolve assembly crisis

Dapo Falade, Ado-Ekiti - 22.07.2008

THE Ekiti State government has declared that the lingering crisis bedevilling the state House of Assembly, and which has paralysed government activities in the state will soon be resolved.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, who gave this assurance in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, restated that the state governor, Mr Segun Oni, would remain neutral in the choice of who would be the speaker.

The state legislature had been embroiled in crises for some time before things got to head following the decision of 18 members of the 26-member assembly to effect a change in its leadership, leading to the removal of Honourable Femi Bamisile as the speaker.

Refuting the allegation that the governor was planning to impose his choice of speaker on the lawmakers, Adewale said the legislature was an independent arm of government which makes laws to regulate its activities.

He said that the decision on the choice of the speaker for the assembly would be left entirely to the legislators, adding that anything to the contrary should be ignored.

Adewale said that rather than supporting anybody for the position of the speaker, what the governor wanted was restoration of peace to the troubled House as soon as possible, adding that he would be ready and willing to work with the lawmakers in moving the state forward.

Attempts to resolve the crisis had not yielded positive results as the 18 pro-impeachment legislators insisted on their support for Hon. Olatunji Odeyemi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, whom they said enjoyed the confidence of the opposition party which formed half of the seats in the House.