The 26 newly elected members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly in the April 11 election have dismissed the insinuation that they would be rubber stamp to the state Governor, Ayo Fayose, during their tenure.
The incoming state Assembly is going to be ruled by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party having cleared all the 26 seats in the House.
Addressing journalists at the weekend in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, the lawmakers-elect promised to do a thorough job to disabuse the minds of the people nursing such impression.
They assured that matters brought before them by Fayose would be subjected to thorough debate in the interest of the people.
The lawmakers-elect, who are die hard loyalists of the governor, also warned the opposition All Progressives Congress to stop every attempt aimed at truncating the smooth running of government in the state.
The lawmaker-elect for Moba Constituency 1, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, alleged that the 19 APC lawmakers in the Assembly had continued to destroy the government through various antics to make the state ungovernable.
The PDP incoming legislators added: “It is disheartening to see supposed men of honour to descend so low and bring shame and odium, not only to the government but to their state and their people a laughing stock in the eyes of other Nigerians.
“As the incoming legislators, we are seriously disturbed by this dishonourable behaviour of the 19 APC lawmakers who have not only ridiculed us a people but have also exposed themselves as bread and butter legislators.”
They said they won’t hesitate to disagree with Fayose on matters that have to do with the interest of the people, but reiterated that such disagreement won’t be allowed to affect the smooth running of government in the state.
They said: “The next Assembly won’t be rubber stamp. We are going to give the people robust legislation through thorough and dispassionate debate of issues brought before us.
“We can disagree with the governor if that will make Ekiti better, but that will not truncate our relationship as brothers and sisters. We will do exactly what the constitution empowers us to do, which is to serve as checks and balances to the executive.”
Responding to a question, Oluwawole said: “The Lagos and Osun Assemblies in the South West are populated by members of APC, does that make them rubber stamp? So, it will be wrong for people to think we are going to be rubber stamp because we are Fayose’s loyalists.”
On move to resolve the crisis rocking the Assembly, culminating in the 19 APC lawmakers abdicating their duties, the lawmakers-elect claimed that they had reached out to the ousted Speaker, Adewale Omirin, on the need to tread the path of honour, but said the overtures were rebuffed.
Oluwawole said: “Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State inherited a PDP-dominated Assembly from Prof. Osaretin Osunbor, but he was not driven out of town because of this. Omirin and other APC lawmakers should forget about personal ambition and give the needed cooperation to the governor.
“It is an understatement to say that the APC has continued to find ways to destroy the government and make Ekiti ungovernable. You cannot but notice the underhand deals of these legislators, the scandalous and moral bankruptcy that had reduced Ekiti to a state of anomie in the last six months.
““Ekiti people are people with high integrity. This unnecessary hullabaloo has dealt a devastating blow on our moral psyche and our image as a people has been seriously battered.
“We are calling on the people to appeal to the conscience of the APC lawmakers and their sponsors to stop the demonization of our Governor and the PDP as a party.
“They are advised to stop these destructive campaigns and focus on issues of development.”
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