Ekiti Assembly Suspends Aribisogan Indefinitely; The Speaker Must Resign- Aribisogan

Ekiti State House of Assembly has suspended indefinitely, its member representing Ikole Local Government Constituency one, Mr Gboyega Aribisogan, saying “he has brought the institution to disrepute by his utterances and activities of late, acts unbecoming of an honourable member of House of Assembly.”

In the resolution signed by all members of the House, including the Speaker, Hon. Kola Oluwawole, Aribisogan, who is currently on suspension from legislative activities based on alleged acts amounting to gross misconducts and dereliction of duties was barred from moving within 1km radius of the House of Assembly Complex till further notice.

Chairman House Committee on Information, Dr Samuel Omotoso, who briefed journalists after the House sitting on Tuesday, disclosed that “On 15th of June, 2017, the House unanimously reaffirmed the 180 days suspension of Hon Aribisogan and also mandated the Speaker to set up a committee to invite and investigate his recent acts of gangsters and hooliganism, which was seen as unbecoming of an honourable member of the House of Assembly.

He said the committee had concluded its assignment and “the report was presented today at plenary by the Chairman, Hon Dele Fajemilehin and has since been adopted as a document of this house.”

Omotoso said that the House resolved that; “Aribisogan is hereby directed not to work or act as a legislator nor receive salaries or allowances during the period of his suspension.

“Aribisogan is hereby disallowed from holding any position of responsibility for the span of the current 5th Assembly, the Sergeant at Arms, who is the Chief Security Officer of the House, is hereby directed to take responsibilities in line with the standing orders of the EKHA, the authority of the House of Assembly is hereby proclaimed as greater than any individual and that the House will apply these actions against Hon Aribisogan in line with the standing orders and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as exercised in punitive measures against Hon Abdulmumin Jubrin and Senator Ali Ndume by our senior colleagues at the National Assembly in Abuja.”

While giving more reasons for Aribisogan’s indefinite suspension, Omotoso said he (Aribisogan) invaded the House with thugs on June 8, 2017, leading to chaos, disorder, confusion, pandemonium and mayhem within and outside the premises of the House.

But in his response, the embattled honourable member calls for the resignation of the speaker

" Rt Hon. Kola Oluwawole having agreed with governor Fayose by joining the remaining 24 members to say YES before the MACE, the authority of the House,he had voluntarily relinquished his position to the governor and therefore cannot continue to function as the Acting Speaker , a position that is reserved for the Deputy Speaker in the case of the Speaker's absence
 Therefore, Rt Hon. Kola Oluwawole must resign as the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly immediately, because his continued stay in that position is a violation of the Standing Order of Ekiti State House of Assembly which states that there shall be no two Speakers in a State.

  Governor Ayo Fayose is presently holding two Executive positions. First, as the Executive Governor and two, as the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly contrary to Section 183 of the Constitution of the  Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that the Governor can not hold two positions during his tenure.
These constitutional infractions and violations of standing rules should not be allowed to continue in a democracy. Governor Fayose must also come the hallowed chamber within the next 14 days to publicly relinquish the position of the Speaker or he should  resign  as Governor of Ekiti state.