By Mumini Abdulkareem
Ambience: The premises of the Kwara State House of Assembly last Tuesday was a beehive of activities as party men and women, families and supporters of lawmakers-elect stormed the complex to cheer and provide moral and physical support to their representatives elected to serve the state for the next four years.
Few days to the all important ceremony, the sprawling complex regarded as one of the best state legislative edifices in the country was being prepared for the day. It began with the clearing of the over grown bushes within the premises by a tractor that worked for about two days and fixing of air-conditions in the Assembly mosque and other offices. The renovation of the 9-room office block for the new chairman of Kwara Assembly Commission and former Speaker, Hon Babatunde Mohammed added glow to the ambience of the complex in readiness for the day. Of particular attention was the gallery which was not only repainted but the management ensured the provision of beautiful curtains and window blinds to create a perfect atmosphere for ambience of the plenary for the ceremony.
Business Time: On the D-Day, party supporters and family members and relative who came even an hour before the commencement of the event scheduled for 10:00 had a hectic time gaining access to the assembly complex especially the gallery. All the entrances that led to the hallowed chambers were barricaded by mass of invited people who found it difficult to use the main entrance. The security men including the Police and Civil Defence who were stationed at strategic places had a harrowing experience controlling the crowd and some persons tried to force their way into the complex. Some of them where manhandled in the process. At the open field within the assembly complex, there was drumming and dancing by party supporters who came in groups decked in different Ankara with the banners of the members-elect they support. Some of the party men and women used the opportunity to make brisk business selling paraphernalia of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of notable politicians within the party.
Commencement: At the press gallery ordinarily meant for journalists, some of the Assembly correspondents had to stand throughout the close to three hours event as available seats were occupied by guests and invitees to the programme. The lawmakers-elect who all spotted native attires were seated before the official 10:00am time for the commencement of proceedings anchored by the clerk, Hajia Jummai Halimah Kperogi and they were intermittently being praised by their political supporters.
Aside from the lawmakers-elect, their supporters and staff of the Assembly, there were other VIPs in the gallery which include the Chairman of the State APC, Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa, Kwara State Head of Service, Mrs Modupe Susan Oluwole, Kwara State House of Assembly Commission and former Speaker, Babatunde Mohammed, pioneer Kwara State PDP chairman, Barrister Kunle Suleiman, Chairman of Committee on Sale of Kwara Properties, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, Elder Wole Oke, Senator Ahmed Mohammed and the ‘powerful’ Alimi Abdulrazaq among others.
The clerk of the House set the ball rolling for commencement of the activities of the day when she called for the nomination of the speaker. According to the House Order Paper which read “Kwara State House of Assembly First Session of the Ninth Legislature Tuesday 11th June, 2019 (Day 1), there were nine items slated to be considered which include election of the speaker, his deputy, administration of oath on both of them and acceptance speech of the former among other.
Shattered Expectations: The election of the speaker and his deputy came with its drama at the floor of the House. Against the widespread report that having stepped down from the speakership race in line with the decision of the party, the only ranking lawmaker, Saheed Popoola among the 24 members of the house might be considered for deputy speaker or principal office, the experienced lawmaker got nothing. The irony of it was that it was even Popoola that nominated the speaker for the position. The presence of the chairman of the party at the event though not unusual and desired, some had inferred was necessary at to forestall any “unforeseen circumstance” that might distort the zoning arrangement agreed upon by the party.
There were even more “surprises” as Popoola further lost out in the race for the deputy speaker which went to Hon Adetiba Olarewaju Raphael of Oke-Ero constituency who was nominated by member representing Malete/IPaiye Oloru Constituency Hon. Babatunde Abdulkareem Paku and seconded by Hon AbdulRasaq Owolabi from Share/Oke-Ode constituency and other principal offices.
Other principal officers unanimously elected were Hon Abubakar Olawoyin Magaji from Magaji Ngari in Ilorin West as House Leader, Deputy House Leader, Hon Olarewaju Bello, Chief Whip, Hon Musa Yusuf Atoyebi and Hon Jimoh Amuda Aliyu as Deputy Whip.
Instruments of Service: Shortly after his emergence was announced, the new speaker who was later presented with three items by the clerk as his working tools viz – the 1999 constitution (as amended), the new House Rules and gavel sat on the speaker’s chair at exactly 10:57am. He later shook hand with all the other members-elect as earlier done by his deputy guided by the clerk and administered the Oath of Office to the remaining 22 members in batches of 7,7,8.
Five Point Agenda: In his acceptance speech, the new Speaker assured that under his watch the House would champion the cause of common man, defend the rights and privileges of the poor to further make democracy more meaningful to the people of the State.
The Speaker who said the House would utilize the new opportunity to recover the state from the clutches of social, economic, political and infrastructural quagmire, by fashioning out legislative instrument that will lead the state to renaissance and make laws for the peace and good governance of the state noted that the legislative arm would enhance the independence of the legislature while maintaining robust and good relationship with the executive arm of government.
The Speaker enjoined his colleagues to be the mouth piece of the people of the state and praised the APC for winning at the poll, pointing out that the victory was a brazen display of the clamour for change by the people of the State. He added that the new House will utilised the opportunity imposed on them by the people to rewrite Kwara history.
“Today is indeed a day of joy for all of us having gone through the rigours of electioneering before being elected. It is indeed a great honour and privilege to be entrusted with so great responsibility by our constituents. It is however my hope and prayer that events before, during and after today will further cement our unity and sincerity of purpose in our quest to take Kwara State to the next level.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that much is expected from us. After the euphoria of today come the challenges of tomorrow. We are assuming office at a period in our history when the morale of our people is at its lowest ebb…
“Therefore, as we commence the first session in the life of this 9th Assembly, we should hit the ground running. The people of Kwara that voted us voted change and we cannot give them anything less. We are expected to always stand for the defence of the rights and privileges of the common man. We should champion the cause of the weak and the poor. We should be the anchor of the wellbeing of our people.
“Distinguished colleagues, as we take our oaths today, it is my wish and hope that we utilize the new opportunity offered to us by Kwarans to recover our state… Let us fashion out the legislative instrument that will lead to Kwara renaissance. We should strive to doggedly pursue our Constitutional responsibilities of making laws for the peace and good governance of Kwara State and collectively resolve to consistently and continually protect and defend the interests of the masses.
“As a parliament, we will always justify the confidence reposed in us by our people by keeping faith with our statutory duties. However, in serving as checks and balance to the executive, we will not be oblivious of the fact that good governance can only be achieved when all arms of government work in partnership and harmony. We will therefore ensure that we do these in order to bring forth the ‘O to pe’ song on the lips of Kwarans. To achieve the above, we will work on the following, enhancing the independence of the Legislature while maintaining a robust and cooperative relationship with the Executive; Improved Oversight function; Strengthening of House Committees for enhanced performance; Improved communication with the public; Conduct a legislative-need assessment.
“As legislators representing our various constituents, let us see ourselves as the mouth piece of the people in accordance with the principles of accountability, effectiveness, rule of law, unity and transparency so as to ensure stability, economic and social development and above all, good governance…
“To our dear Governor, …we say thank you for providing the right leadership through which the ‘O to ge’ slogan came to Kwara and for providing the enabling environment that made this day possible. We appreciate that that slogan had gone with electioneering campaigns and politicking. We also hereby subscribe to and align ourselves with the new ‘Ise ya’ slogan with which the present administration will deliver dividends of democracy to the good people of Kwara State as promised.
“I am also obliged to extend my hands of fellowship to the members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, gentlemen of the press. All I ask from you is wide coverage of activities of the House as I promise to run an open door policy and make myself readily available and accessible to you at all times” he emphasised.
First Official Duty: In his maiden use of the gavel, the new speaker later suspended plenary for 10 minutes in his first assignment to enable him change his Agbada attire to his ceremonial outfit to officially commence legislative activities.
