Oyo State House of Assembly has elected a ranking legislator, Michael Adeyemo representing Ibarapa East State Constituency and first-timer, Honourable Musa Abdulwasi representing Saki West as a speaker and a deputy speaker respectively.
Adeyemi, alongside other principal officers like Hon Abdul-Wasiu Musa (APC-Saki West), Deputy Speaker and Subair who emerged as Majority Leader were elected unopposed.
Others were Hon. Oyeleke Adeyemi (APC-Afijio), Deputy Majority Leader; Hon. Olafioye Akinmoyede (APC- Lagelu), Chief Whip while Hon. Olusegun Ajanaku (APC- Ibadan South-West Constituency II) emerged as Chairman, Parliamentary Caucus.
The election of the Minority Leader, however, generated heated debate on the floor the house as members of the Accord Party opposed the nomination of Olagunju.
Hon. Muideen Olagunju (Accord Party–Oyo East/ West) had observed that the nomination was not in compliance with the house orders.
The 8th Assembly has 18 APC members, eight Accord Party members and six Labour Party members.
But the assembly’s suspension of its Order 7 Rule 9(1) which states that the highest ranking among the minority parties should produce the Minority Leader paved the way for an election.
Ojo won with 21 votes to defeat Olagunju who had nine votes.
In his acceptance speech, Adeyemo thanked the members of the Assembly for their support, assuring them that he would be fair to all.
“The elections are over and I believe our people should now let partisanship give way to patriotism. We must be prepared to sacrifice in the face of financial and economic crises as have been witnessed,” he said.
Adeyemo, who promised to cooperate with the executive arm, however, vowed that the Assembly would not be a rubber stamp.
“To the faithful and residents of the state, the Assembly being inaugurated today will not be a rubber stamp rather it will be mindful of its constitutional responsibilities. We shall be up and doing in our oversight functions.
“We also want to urge members of the public to support this administration in view of the current economic and financial challenges that the state and the country are facing. We all must prepare to sacrifice for better and great tomorrow.”
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