A former factional Speaker of
Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Dele Olugbemi, has rejected his nomination
by Governor Ayodele Fayose as a member of the House of Assembly Service
Commission.
Olugbemi shunned the screening
and confirmation of nominees on Wednesday but the four other nominees were
confirmed by the Assembly.
Those whose nominations were
confirmed are a former Speaker, Olatunji Odeyemi (Chairman), Bode Ajewole, Mrs.
Lanre Fajuyi and Muyiwa Fadahunsi.
The Leader of Government
Business, Olatunji Akinyele, moved the motion for the amendment of the House of
Assembly Service Commission Law 2003 (as amended) “to accommodate nominees from
the three senatorial districts.”
It was the fourth amendment to
the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission Law.
This, according to the House, “is
to ensure fairness to all the districts and to ensure equitable distribution of
positions.”
Reacting to Olugbemi’s
non-appearance and rejection of the appointment, the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole,
said a nominee could not be forced to accept an offer.
Oluwawole said, “If you offer
somebody an appointment and he says no, there will be a replacement because
there are so many people yearning for this opportunity.
“People who are very intelligent
and qualified are looking for this opportunity and government will ensure that
another replacement is made.
“We stepped it down (on Tuesday)
because we wanted to ensure that there is a balance in representation on the
commission.
“It had to be stepped down to do
some necessary adjustments to ensure equity and fair play because every segment
of Ekiti State should be made to feel a sense of belonging.
“It is a development we have to
address and it has nothing to do with the fact that somebody declined the
offer.
“If I am offering you an offer
and you say no, you cannot be compelled to serve in a particular agency or
commission, it is a matter of choice.”
Akinyele also said, “It’s no big
deal at all, we are to clear the House of Assembly Service Commission board
nominees.
“The members have to be five and
we are having four nominees now, the fifth person is going to be included so
that the confirmation will be done at the same time. That is just the simple
reason.”
On why he rejected the
appointment, Olugbemi said his action was based on principle.
He added that he was shocked
about the manner his appointment as a member of the commission was announced in
the media without Fayose first consulting him.
He said, “I’m a member of the
appointment committee. I was shocked to hear my name announced on the radio as
being appointed as a member of the commission without my knowledge.
“The governor’s action was
against the ethos of democracy and he is simply running a one-man show. Since
he came into office, he has been operating without regards to the party.
“I gave so much to defend his
mandate but he has shown me no respect at all. I was still wondering about the
appointment when he sent a message to me that some people were interested in
replacing me in case I reject the offer. Since he had decided to preempt my
decision, I did not find it difficult to reject the appointment.
“All I did to defend him during
the impeachment plot was to prevent the state from plunging into chaos so I
have no regret.”
Copyright PUNCH.
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