Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has advised lawmakers-elect in the state to desist from heating up the polity over the speakership and principal officers of the incoming 7th House of Assembly.
He gave the advice in the wake of intrigues, horse-trading and lobbying by lawmakers-elect eyeing the speakership seat ahead of the inauguration slated for June 6.
The ex-governor, who spoke at a retreat organised for the lawmakers-elect at Ikogosi Warm Resort, urged the lawmakers-elect to allow the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to decide the leadership of the House.
He said they should wait for the position of the party on the House leadership positions, noting that occupying principal offices of the House was not a right but only a privilege.
Fayemi said the party was aware of subterranean moves by some few individuals, whom he did not name, to hijack the leadership of the Assembly, urging the lawmakers-elect to resist the pressure from becoming willing tools.
He said the lawmakers-elect being members of the APC were bound to submit themselves to the party’s position on the leadership of the Assembly, since it was on the platform that they were elected.
Fayemi said although the Assembly was an independent arm of the government, the incoming lawmakers must respect party supremacy by subsuming their interest under the larger party interest.
“None of you can be bigger than APC. None of you was voted to be principal officer. Everything other that is ‘jara’. I need to say this because of shenanigans that have been going on. People have been going around to lobby leaders. I don’t know where that is coming from. The party will convey to you those who will be principal officers. It is not a position to be contested or lobbied for. It is not an entitlement.
“We are all products of the party whether as governor or lawmaker. It’s only the party leadership that can determine what we do. Don’t be misled.”
He equally enjoined them to partner Governor Biodun Oyebanji in his quest to place Ekiti State on a higher pedestal and bring dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the masses.
The ex-governor, who stressed the need for a smooth relationship between the executive, legislature and judiciary, said there must be a synergy and mutual understanding between the three arms for effective and efficient governance.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Adeoye Aribasoye, said the workshop was organised to provide the members-elect with the operational information about legislative procedures.
He thanked Governor Oyebanji and other APC leaders for their unalloyed support towards the planning and execution of the retreats.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
