By Gbenga Sodeinde
…Second Term Lawmaker, Aribasoye, Emerges Ekiti Assembly’s Speaker
…..Late Egbeyemi’s daughter becomes deputy speaker
After its proclamation by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday, a second term lawmaker, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has emerged as the Speaker of the seventh Ekiti State House of Assembly.
The 26-member lawmakers, representing different constituencies, in their unanimous verdict, elected Aribasoye, who is representing Ikole Constituency 2 in the Hallowed Chambers to superintend over the House.
In the same fashion, the daughter of the late Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi, Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju, representing Ado Constituency 2 , emerged the Deputy Speaker, among other principal officers elected during the inaugural plenary session.
The Assembly, had earlier held its valedictory session, on Monday, signaling the expiration of the sixth assembly presided over by a female speaker, Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba.
Going by the composition of the assembly, the ruling All Progressives Congress has 24 members, while the Social Democratic Party has two, with People’s Democratic Party having none.
However, Governor Oyebanji, in his proclamation letter read by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Tola Esan, urged the assembly to focus attention on robust legislative functions that would transform the state and lubricate frictions for smooth running of government.
Oyebanji promised to respect the sanctity of separation of powers as enshrined in the 1999 constitution, by allowing the lawmakers to enjoy independence for mutual respect to be entrenched in the system.
He urged the lawmakers to work harmoniously with other arms of government to bring radical development to the state.
In his acceptance speech, the highly ecstatic Aribasoye, said; “colleagues, esteemed guests, and the good people of Ekiti State, I am honoured and humbled to accept my election and eventual inauguration as the Speaker of the 7th Assembly of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
“I am grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me, and I promise to work tirelessly to justify this trust. As we embark on this new journey, it is imperative that we remember the words of the great Nelson Mandela, who once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
He added further ; “The house under my leadership will be committed to working collaboratively with the executive arm and judiciary for the development of our state. The three arms of government are interdependent, and we must work together to ensure the progress and prosperity of Ekiti State.
“We must work together in harmony to achieve the common goal of a better Ekiti State.As I take up this new position as the Speaker of the 7th Assembly, permit me to quickly acknowledge the hard work put in place by the 6th Assembly, particularly my colleagues with whom I served as the Chief Whip and spokesperson for the House.
” They worked tirelessly towards the development of Ekiti State and we are grateful for their contributions. I am committed to building on their legacy and ensuring that the efforts of the 7th Assembly are even more impactful. Dear Colleagues of the sixth Assembly, don’t leave us alone, let us all work together to build a better Ekiti State.
“At this juncture, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the commendable efforts of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in keeping Ekiti State working. Mr. Governor, in just under 300 days of office, your administration has already made a significant impact on the lives of the people of Ekiti.
“Your unwavering commitment to building on the solid foundation laid by your predecessors is a testament to your dedication to the development of our state. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all past governors in Ekiti for their contributions to the progress and prosperity of our state.
“To my distinguished colleagues of the 7th Assembly, as we embark on this new journey, let us remember that our strength lies in our unity. We must put aside our personal interests and work together in harmony for the progress of Ekiti State.
‘The task ahead of us is great, but I am confident that with our collective efforts, we will achieve great things. As we move forward, we will be guided by the principles of accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness.
“We will ensure that our actions are always in the best interest of the people of Ekiti State. We will be open and transparent in our law/decision-making processes, and we will seek the input of all stakeholders.
“We recognize that we cannot achieve these goals alone. We need the support and cooperation of all stakeholders – the executive branch, the judiciary, civil society organizations, the private sector, and our citizens. We are committed to working with all of you to build a better Ekiti State.
“Let us be guided by the words of Helen Keller, who said, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” Let us stay united and work together towards a better Ekiti State.To the good people of Ekiti, I want to assure you that under my leadership as Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, we will not let you down.
“Our efforts shall be geared towards the realization of the dreams of our forebears; while preserving the independence of this important arm of government, we will work harmoniously with our Governor, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, to achieve the six-pillar agenda of his administration, which centers around keeping Ekiti working towards shared prosperity.
” Our legislative efforts will be responsible and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Ekiti people. We are committed to tirelessly promoting economic growth and development by enacting laws that facilitate job creation and enhance the standard of living in our state”.
Aribasoye, the boisterous Legal Practitioner, was first elected as the representative of his constituency in 2019, where he superintended over several pivotal committees as chairman and performed impressively, which served as a springboard for his current position.
Upon election in 2019, the passionate, meticulous and skilled parliamentarian, was elected the Chief Whip, while he was at various times the Chairman of several committees, including Media and Public Affairs, Public Accounts, SDG and Due Process, Inter-Parliamentary Relations, Rules and Business, among others.
The Human Rights Activist bagged his Bachelor Degree in Law at the prestigious Ekiti State University in 2013, and later proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in 2015 before foraying into a full fledged legal practice.
Before veering into politics, Aribasoye worked in the Ekiti State Civil Service as an Auditor and retired in 2014 and later had a flourishing legal practice as a Principal Partner at A.S. Aribasoye Law firm in Ado Ekiti, while also an association counsel at Olanrewaju, Akingbolu and Co Law Chambers.
During his university’s days, Aribasoye was at a time the President of the Ekiti State University Students’ Union Government . He is also a Regional Youth Pastor of The Redeemed Christians Church of God(RCCG), Region 25.