By Babajide Agbeyo, SA Media to the Speaker, EKHA._
The 12 month parliamentary journey of the Ekiti State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye is one nourished with many good works.
The 7th Assembly inaugurated in June 2023 has moved with an impressive speed, taking strides that are necessarily progressive and protective of the interest of the Ekiti populace.
For the record, the assembly has passed thirteen important bills that drew painstaking attention and intense debate for the best of results in addition to several motions and resolutions reached.
Of note is the local content law(first amendment) 2024 which compels patronage of Ekiti artisans as well as localised raw materials by contractors taking jobs in the state. Local contractors are also expected to get ample consideration in contracts given out as prescribed by the law which is expected to help boost the local economy.
Also, the legislature has pushed through, the Ekiti State, Electric Power Sector Law 2023 to enable the state manage its own electricity; Regulation Approval law 2024 which provides that regulations guiding MDAs must not be at variance with the state laws among other very critical legislations.
It has no doubt been a sterling steering of the ship of the 7th Assembly in a manner that is completely reflective of service, sacrifice, impact, improvisation, improvement, coordination, innovation and ovation.
The exceptional qualities of the incumbent Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye coupled with his placid and classic approach have become legendary and laudable, rubbing off positively on the polity.
In the words of Chan Master Fuchan Yuan, ”There are three essentials to leadership: humility, clarity and courage.’ Aribasoye by all standards stands on this tripod.
The speaker has within the space of 12 months brought about enviable renovations and revolutions that have shaped the legislature through his productive and inventive approach.
Obviously baffled and gravelled upon discovering that the recording method for the assembly sessions had been the primitive use of cassettes , Aribasoye had an interface with the other 25 lawmakers in his usual convincing and consensus style and this led to the digital revolution activated by the 7th assembly.
At the moment, the house has taken delivery and installed digital equipment to record and project plenary for live viewing across the globe while lawmakers now take their ayes and nays on their keypads as against voice votes.
Call him Mr. Welfare, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye also ensured, with the absolute support of his lawmaker colleagues, the reactivation of the assembly loans board, which succeeded in giving out housing loans to at least 50 staff members. This was a cheering news to the staff who could not hide their joy for this novel development.
He has also been able to foster a cordial relationship with the executive in the state and the results of this have been a calm polity devoid of politics of high temper and temperature.
The immediate past Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State CP Dare Ogundare said when he hosted Aribasoye in November last year that the cordial relationship he noticed between the executive and the Aribasoye led legislature has contributed immensely to the peace enjoyed in the state.
According to the experienced CP, executive and legislature crisis always takes its toll on security and the polity making him to shower praise on Aribasoye for an excellent leadership and mature coordination of affairs in the House.
In the same tone, a member of the 6th Ekiti House of Assembly and a former council chairman in Ekiti State, Tajudeen Akingbolu lauded the cordiality between the executive and legislature in Ekiti State, linking this to the forthright and progressive leadership of the 7th assembly under Aribasoye.
In his words, ‘Aribasoye has fostered a solid relationship between the executive and legislature. When you have such, the credit goes to the leader most especially.’
Akingbolu stated further that,
‘As the leader of the legislative arm, Ariba knows his onions, he knows how to perfectly combine his legislative duties with his political assignment. He has not had any friction with Mr. Governor because he’s a positive thinker and planner.’
In his capacity as the Chairman , Southwest Conference of Speakers, Aribasoye has been galvanising his fellow speakers to project and protect the interests of the region for security, economic and legislative advantages as the conference hopes to achieve uniformity of laws and cooperation for stronger security among others.
It is noteworthy that Aribasoye has utmost regard for his fellow lawmakers.
I was surprised, though pleasantly, when Mr. Speaker sent me a copy of his letter to his colleagues last December, titled ‘ARIBASOYE WRITES COLLEAGUES, PRAISES THEM FOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EKITI DEVELOPMENT’.
Certainly, the Speaker is not under any obligation to write such a letter but Aribasoye’s thoughts are different and deeper than obligation. He understands what sabotage and lack of support means to a leader and will not take the absolute cooperation he enjoys from his colleagues including the lawmakers from opposition party for granted.
He also has not lagged behind in his constituency responsibilities, there’s hardly any quarter that Aribasoye did not visit his constituents.
On one of these occasions, apart from the regular empowerment gestures, while on an inspection of schools across his constituency he spotted indigent students who lacked sandals and wear tattered uniforms, and surprisingly changed their stories after purchasing these items for them.
Aribasoye has also showed himself as a physician. By initiating a special retirement programme to celebrate all former clerks, deputy clerks and executive secretaries who left the Ekiti assembly unceremoniously, Aribasoye and his colleagues took up the doctor’s role which observers described as an effective healing for the bruised hearts.
Aribasoye is a daring and audacious leader whose performances are laminated with courage and productive risks thus earning him a consistently soaring and towering status. He has exhibited the best of upright and forthright leadership.
As a noiseless assessor which typifies my nature, I see in Aribasoye two incurable addictions. He is addicted to giving back to his town and constituency. Although he accords priority and sincere attention to every genuine request or issue brought before him, he responds with an extra strength to the mention of Odo Ayedun, other wards he represents and Ikole local government in general.
The second addiction is to his pretty, adorable and durable wife, Adenike Aribasoye. Aribasoye creates a space and place of honour for his wife within and without, and this is palpable and known to every keen observer. He has, for an umpteenth time, publicly implied that Madam Speaker is an integral and inseparable part of Mr. Speaker thus readily reflecting in practice , the many legislations in Ekiti state bordering on upholding the dignity and rights of women.
Summarily, he, undoubtedly holds his home and home town axis in high esteem.
His relationship with his aides and immediate staff is equally worth emulating. He reads your mood, notices your economic temperature with a view to bringing it down with some naira notes, accommodates downward vertical counsels from subordinates and registers his displeasure on any misdeed and misconduct instantly without keeping the grudge overnight.
Is Aribasoye most perfect? No. Does he have areas he needs to pay attention to or improve upon? Definitely!
With three more years ahead of this 7th assembly under his leadership, it is strongly hoped that this harmoniously productive one year will form a viable launch pad for more monumental achievements.
However, The 7th assembly, no doubt, has more grounds to cover in the years ahead, and it must realize that the legislative agenda just formally unveiled by the lawmakers has created a standard upon which key and keen stakeholders would base their performance appraisal and scorecard.
Best of luck , Ekiti 7th assembly, and happy anniversary!