Council of elders, Olanipekun urge peace in Ekiti Assembly
Legal icon asks House to reinstall Aribisogan
THE Ekiti Council of Elders and a senior lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun ( SAN), have called on members of the state’s House of Assembly, the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) and the party leaders to close ranks and allow peace to reign in the hallowed chamber and the state at large.
The Council, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Mr. Niyi Ajibulu, on behalf of the Council President, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, decried the unnecessary power wrangling in the legislature.
Besides, it implored the
Assembly members to be peaceful and honourable in their dealings in the interest of the government and people of Ekiti State.
According to the Council of Elders’ President, it is expedient for the House to elect a new headship but not in a manner that denigrates the Ekiti core values of openness, selflessness, dedication, dignity and with decorum.
The Council said it was concerned that at this critical period when the citizens are groaning under high inflation on goods and services, unemployment, insecurity and near collapse of road networks, the House members ought to be focused on constructive engagement with the new administration in addressing challenges
The elders, therefore, appealed to all interests and power- brokers to allow democratic process in all their activities, and that the installation of a new Speaker should be done in a somber manner rather than the needless imbroglio.
The elders also urged all Ekiti sons and daughters to always be guided by the
Rethos of “Omoluwabi” by which Ekiti is known. ELATEDLY, Olanipekun warned that although the politicians behind the ongoing parliamentary fiasco in the state may see it as business as usual, they should be told in no unmistakable language that it is a veritable threat to peace, order and good governance.
The legal icon, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen, said: “Unless nipped in the bud now or immediately, the consequences may be farreaching. It is rather unfortunate that the ruling party in the state has chosen a bizarre manner and route to welcome to office the governor produced on its own ticket. The politicians are most unfair to both the new Sheriff and the good people of the state.
“As an elder and stakeholder in the state, I plead with all the feuding parties and their sponsors to sheath their swords.
“My proposal to end this selfimposed crisis is that let the Speaker, freely elected by the legislators, Olugboyega Aribisogan, be, while the Deputy Speaker, who was elected alongside the late Funminiyi Afuye retain his position.”