Lawmakers on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Ekiti State House of Assembly have said that embattled Dr. Adewale Omirin remains the speaker of the House irrespective of the crisis in the assembly.
Hon. Dele Olugbemi, who acted as Protem Speaker on Monday when the PDP members sat and approved the three commissioner-nominees, 12 Special Advisers and reconstitution of the dissolved 16 councils in the state, said Omirin, a member of the All Progressives Congress, had not been impeached and removed as widely speculated.
Speaking to journalists at the premises of the assembly shortly after a solidarity visit by leaders of market women across the 16 local government areas of the state, Olugbemi, however, appealed to the 19 APC lawmakers, who had since relocated from the state, to return and do the work they for which they were elected.
The Iyalojas, led by Chief Olabisi Okunmolale, had earlier told the PDP lawmakers that they were at the assembly to appreciate them for cooperating with Governor Ayo Fayose’s administration to move the state forward.
Okunmolale specifically lauded the lawmakers for the speedy passage of the requests of Fayose to reconstitute the dissolved councils and appointment of commissioners.
The market leader also urged the APC lawmakers to sheath their swords and cooperate with the governor.
Okunmolale, who expressed disappointment over the strained relationship between the legislature and the executive since Fayose took over on October 16, said the lawmakers should regard themselves as being elected to enact laws for the good governance of the state.
She said: “We are not happy about what is happening and that is why we are here today.
“We are planning to meet the Chairman of Ekiti State Traditional Council with a view to helping us to appeal to them on the need to embrace peace and not to pull down the state.”
Olugbemi maintained that 10 lawmakers on the platform of the PDP sat to approve the governor’s commissioners on Monday, but declined to disclose the identities of the three ‘strange’ lawmakers that sat with the original seven PDP members.
Hon. Olugbemi added: “Another six lawmakers will soon cross over to the PDP.
“Three are cooperating with us administratively, while another three will soon join us.
“We shall unveil them at the appropriate time.”
He dismissed insinuation that the assembly is crisis-ridden, adding: “I am not seeing any crisis in the assembly.
“We have not impeached the speaker.
“Rt. Hon. Omirin remains our speaker.
“What we have done is within the law and in the interest of all Ekiti people.”
Olugbemi also denied the insinuation that the PDP lawmakers were being influenced by Fayose.
Five PDP lawmakers were in attendance during the visit.
They were made up of three men and two women.
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