Oyebanji: Why I didn’t interfere in Ekiti Assembly crisis

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, says he did not interfere in the crisis that engulfed the State House of Assembly in the last couple of days because of his belief in separation of powers.

The Assembly impeached its former Speaker, Gboyega Aribisogan, who spent one week in office, and elected Bunmi Adelugba, its first female Speaker as a replacement on Monday.

Speaking when members of the Assembly presented Adelugba and the executives of the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) to him in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Tuesday, Oyebanji said he decided to stay off the crisis so as to give the legislative arm the full Constitutional rights it has to administer itself without interference.

The governor also described the crisis as a family affair that could be resolved amicably without external interference.

Oyebanji, who thanked leaders of the APC for their intervention and efforts at resolving the issue politically, assured the new Speaker of his support but reminded her of the need to work on the speedy passage of the state’s 2023 budget.

Presenting the Speaker to Governor Oyebanji, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Akeem Jamiu, described the crisis that broke out in the Assembly in the last few days as an embarrassment to members of the APC in the state and to the people of Ekiti generally.

Jamiu said the Assembly presented the new Speaker to the governor as a mark of honour and respect for his exalted office.

He stated the Assembly had corrected what he called an “anomaly” in the Assembly, assuring that the Assembly, under the new leadership, would continue to maintain peace.

In her remarks, Adelugba expressed appreciation to all members of the Ekiti Assembly and to APC executives in the state for her emergence as the new Speaker.

She described the process that led to her becoming the speaker, as “a peaceful one” and promised to always maintain allegiance to the Constitution and to the people of Ekiti State.

The Star