- Governor respects separation of powers – Information Commissioner
A suspended member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Oluwagboyega Aribisogan, has vowed to fight Governor Ayodele Fayose to a standstill over his current ordeal in the hands of the other lawmakers in the state’s legislature.
Aribisogan declared that the ongoing war in the state House of Assembly over his suspension was actually between him and Fayose, saying that he was ready to give the battle against the governor all it would require.
The lawmaker, who was reacting to the actions being taken against him by his colleagues in the state’s legislature said, “Those that are responsible for this impasse in the Ekiti State House of Assembly will soon realise the futility of their actions. As a man who fears no man but God, I will fight this injustice till the end. A situation where a man we all laboured to bring back from political oblivion will want to put all of us in his pocket, is totally unacceptable.
“If they think they can extend the illegal suspension by another illegality, they are joking. The show of shame at the plenary yesterday, where Samuel Omotoso ordered the Speaker to compel other members to condemn me and extend the suspension, is nothing but an academic exercise that has no basis in law or rational thinking.
“And because Pastor Oluwawole and his retinue of ignoramuses said that because Ikole people have not come to the Assembly to protest, it is an indication that they are in support of the illegal suspension, let’s wait and see how it plays out in the coming days.”
The Assembly had reviewed the suspension order on Aribisogan during a press conference jointly addressed by the Speaker, Hon. Kola Oluwawole and Dr. Samuel Omotoso, the current Chairman, House Committee on information, last week, saying that the embattled lawmaker had only spent 147 days and that he had 33 more legislative days to serve his suspension.
They urged him to show repentance during this period and apologise to the assembly.
The lawmakers had said, “We are irrevocably committed to Governor Ayodele Fayose and we promise the people of Ekiti State that we will always cooperate with him and offer all the necessary support needed in his attempt to put foods on their tables.”
But in a swift reaction, Aribisogan, accused Governor Fayose of being behind his ordeal, describing his colleagues in the Assembly as “Men of low character, political rascals, who are acting the script of some anti -democratic forces outside the Assembly.”
While vowing to fight the injustice with the last drop of his blood, Aribisogan, who was suspended by his fellow lawmakers in October last year, resurfaced last week in company with his supporters, who stormed the Assembly with him on June 8, 2017, to resume sitting after serving his 180-day legislative days suspension.
He told journalists at the Assembly’s premises that he had resumed his legislative duties according to the wishes of the people of his constituency, whom he said had consulted the House Standing Rules and Constitution and discovered the illegality of the action of his colleagues against him.
The lawmaker had also apologised to the Ekiti people for being part of those who brought Fayose back to power, vowing to continue to fight for his rights and the people of Ikole Constituency 1, whom he said had been denied representation for about eight months.
The embattled lawmaker explained that the alleged meeting with Senator Buruji Kashamu for which he was being punished never took place.
He disclosed further that the superimposed audio tape his colleagues relied on as evidence of his meeting with kashamu did not give any detail of such a meeting.
Aribisogan said, “I want to say that I have resolved to go ahead and serve the people of my constituency and Ekiti State in general. So help me God.”
Aribisogan, who faulted the investigation panel set up by the PDP faction loyal to Fayose, claimed that the panelists had been ordered to do a hatchet job against him, disclosing further that he had reported the alleged illegality being perpetrated by the governor through the Assembly to the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin.
Sources at the Force Headquarters in Abuja hinted that the IGP had ordered the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulahi Chafe, to provide maximum protection for the embattled lawmaker, following reported threats, intimidation, harassment and fear of possible attack on him and his family.
The IGP’s order to the Ekiti police boss was conveyed through a signal dated June 15, 2017. It also directed an Assistant Commissioner of police in charge of IGP Special Investigative Panel, ACP Williams, to investigate the alleged threat and other allegations as contained in a petition Aribisogan earlier submitted to the IGP.
Police sources hinted further that Governor Fayose allegedly made spirited efforts to stop Aribisogan from getting police protection but failed.
But the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, said that Governor Fayose had nothing to do with suspension of the lawmaker by his colleagues.
Ogunsuyi said that as a respecter of the principle of separation of powers, the governor would not dabble in the affairs of the state House of Assembly, adding that Aribisogan should try and resolve his disagreement with his fellow lawmakers.
“I think members of the Ekiti state House of Assembly are well guided in the discharge of their functions, and Governor Fayose is not a member of the House. I don’t see and I don’t believe the governor in any way’ll do that because he respects and believes in separation of power. I think his colleagues are responsible. It is normal for two people to fight, but after that they will settle it. But for Governor Fayose, he will not interrupt in such matter,” he said.
