Razaq Bamidele
As the stage is set for the proclamation of the new set of leadership for the Ogun State House of Assembly by Governor Dapo Abiodun tomorrow, Tuesday, June 20, 2023, anxiety, excitement and suspense now envelope the whole state, as stakeholders are anxiously waiting to know what the outcome would be.
The tenure of the Ninth Assembly, under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olakunle Oluomo, expired last week after four years in the saddle, a new set of leadership to steer the ship of the legislative chambers for the next four years is set to berth.
The inauguration of the new leadership could not hold last week due to the absence of the state Governor, Abiodun, who was reported to be away on an official assignment outside the state.
Expectedly, the Speaker, Oluomo, who succeeded in coming back to the House after the last election is said to be in the race for a return to his seat while earlier, a couple of other lawmakers were believed to be interested in the speakership seat.
Our latest checks have, however, revealed that some stakeholders across several caucuses in the three senatorial districts of the state have harmonised their positions with the consensus that Oluomo should be allowed to go for a second term based on his excellent performance in his first term coming.
This must have emboldened a loyal supporter of the Speaker, who craves anonymity to say, “Our camp is confident of victory tomorrow because our principal’s credentials are our strength. We would not allow a wrong decision tomorrow to dismantle the good foundation Oluomo has set for the past four years, which has ensured rapid development to the state through an Executive/Legislative harmonious relationship.”
In addition, feelers from the political class in the state seemed to have agreed with the above observation of the speaker’s supporter that the coast seems clearer than ever for Oluomo to continue on his seat for another term, citing the same harmonious relationship of the House with the executive arm of the government that has led to more developments.
The seeming unanimous decision of the stakeholders to return Oluomo for another term might not be unconnected to an episode in 2010 when the crisis between the legislature and the executive led to the closing down of the House by the State Security Services (SSS).
We had reported in one of our last editions that, “some of the members from the Central District speculated to be nursing ambitions to slug it out with Oluomo have reached out to him to assure him of their solid support and unshaken loyalty for his leadership quality and teamwork style.”
We also reported a source close to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State Chapter, who confided in our reporter that “the party’s leadership and relevant stakeholders decided to prevail on dissenting voices within the House to give Oluomo another chance to maintain the crisis-free atmosphere that allows a conducive environment for rapid development and conducive atmosphere for the ease of doing business in the state.”
Waxing philosophical, a respected elder statesman and chieftain of the APC, who doesn’t want his name in print said Oluomo had perfected the art of hand-cleaning and thus should be allowed to wine and dine with the elders, adding, “He who factors thoughts of political Leaders and Elders into his thinking and actions like Oluomo will definitely rise and have his way in politics.”
However, having realised that 24 hours is a long period in politics, even members of the speaker’s camp who had earlier expressed confidence in victory were seen traversing every nook and cranny of the state concretising their earlier efforts on canvassing support for their principal since in political parlance, it is not over yet until it is properly over.
“Too much confidence and complacency can be dangerous,” another member of the camp volunteered.
The Cabinet Angle
Analysts are of the view that the anxiety, excitement, and suspense that envelop the state over the delayed inauguration of the new leadership of the House could be traced to the expectations of interested members of the party in the cabinet composition by the governor.
This is so because it is the House that will receive the cabinet nominees from the governor for clearance before the governor can swear them in as commissioners to start to work with him. Against this background, not a few interested candidates and their godfathers were jolted when the proclamation of the 10th House failed to hold last week.
The sudden change in the date of the inauguration from last week has sent the lobbyists back to the field for readjustment of strategies where necessary. While some old ones are working tirelessly towards making the new list, some new aspirants are also crossing their t’s and dotting their ‘i’s with their godfathers to make the final list.
Recall after Governor Dapo Abiodun’s inauguration for his second term in office, he made three separate appointments to kick start his second tenure in office. The first was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi while the second was the appointment of Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo as the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS).
The third and the latest appointment approved by the governor was that of six Special Advisers.
In a statement signed by the SSG Talabi, Mr. Oladapo Okubadejo has been appointed as the Chief Economic Adviser to the governor.
Others according to the statement are Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, Special Adviser, Budget and Planning; Jagunmolu Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, Special Adviser, Housing; Engr. Adebowale O. Akinsanya, Special Adviser, Works & Infrastructure; Mr. Olusina Ogungbade, Special Adviser, Justice and Dr. Tomi Coker, Special Adviser, Health.
According to Mr. Talabi, the SSG, the appointments take immediate effect.