By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The Seventh Ekiti State House of Assembly (2023-2027) was on Tuesday inaugurated by the State governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The inauguration of the legislative house by the governor signalled a formal commencement of the new seventh legislature as the new legislators took their oath of office to exercise their mandate for the next four years.
It was an atmosphere of pomp and pageantry as the new legislators were joined by their family members, supporters and people from their constituencies who thronged the Assembly Complex to catch a glimpse of the ceremony.
The new House of Assembly was inaugurated through a proclamation letter forwarded by Governor Oyebanji and read by the Clerk, Mr. Tola Esan, amidst cheers and ovation in the hallowed chamber.
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The ceremony was also witnessed by former members of the Assembly, traditional rulers, party leaders and other invited guests from all parts of the State and beyond.
Mr. Adeoye Stephen Aribasoye from Ikole Constituency 2 was elected Speaker while Mrs. Bolaji Adediwura Egbeyemi-Olagbaju from Ado Constituency 2 was elected as the Deputy Speaker.
Until his election as Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye served as the Chief Whip of the Sixth Assembly and also as the Chairman of House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.
Rt. Hon. Egbeyemi-Olagbaju’s last appointment in government was as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Empowerment during the administration of the immediate past Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi before she resigned to contest for the Assembly seat for her Constituency.
The Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Esan, who oversaw the election of the two presiding officers also administered the oath of membership, the oath of allegiance on them and the oath as Speaker and Deputy Speaker on the duo.
The motion nominating Rt. Hon. Aribasoye for the position of Speaker was moved by the re-elected member representing Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 1, Hon. Femi Akindele and was seconded by the re-elected member representing Ekiti East Constituency 2, Hon. Lateef Akanle.
The motion nominating Rt. Hon. Egbeyemi-Olagbaju for the seat of Deputy Speaker was moved by the re-elected member representing Gbonyin Constituency, Hon. Adeteju Okuyiga and was seconded by the re-elected member representing Ido/Osi Constituency 1, Hon. Abiodun Fawekun.
In his acceptance speech, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye pledged that the Seventh Assembly’s actions would be in the best interest of the people of Ekiti State. He solicited for the support of all stakeholders including the civil society, traditional rulers, the media, the bureaucracy and the constituents to achieve success in their stewardship.
The Speaker promised that his leadership would work with the two other arms of government-the executive and the judiciary-to work in harmony for the prosperity of Ekiti State and promote the State’s economic development by enacting laws that would enhance job creation and better the standard of living of the people.
Rt. Hon. Aribasoye assured that the legislature would work with Governor Biodun Oyebanji to help him achieve his vision for the development of the State and keep Ekiti working towards Shared Prosperity agenda encapsulated in his Six Pillars for Ekiti Development.
He also paid tributes to all his predecessors in office and all former leaders and members of the Assembly, promising to build on the solid foundation they had laid to make the State realize its full potentials as a vibrant state.
After the inauguration, the new Assembly adjourned sine die (indefinitely) after the inaugural session.