Balancing Ondo’s Political Equation with Election of House Speaker

Fidelis David writes that the newly inaugurated 26 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have followed  established  political convention, ensuring that the first three  positions in the state –governor, deputy governor, and house speaker – are equitably shared among the three senatorial districts in the sunshine state.

Last weekend, the newly inaugurated 10th Ondo State House of Assembly elected a member representing Ondo East constituency, Olamide Adesanmi Oladiji, as Speaker of the House.

Also, a lawmaker representing Ilaje Constituency 1 , Abayomi Akinruntan, was elected as Deputy Speaker.

Oladiji and Akiruntan emerged unopposed after the lawmaker representing Ifedore constituency, Temitope Akomolafe, moved a motion for the nomination of Oladiji Olamide as Speaker which was seconded by the lawmaker representing Ondo West II, Abiola Oladapo, while a member representing Idanre Constituency, Princess Oluwatosin Ogunlowo, nominated Prince Abayomi Akinruntan,for the position of Deputy Speaker.

The inauguration followed the expiration of the Ninth Assembly led by the immediate past Speaker, Hon Bamidele Oleyelogun.

Addressing the 10th Assembly, the new Speaker, appreciated his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him and also appreciated Governor Akeredolu for providing an enabling environment leading to his emergence.

His words: “To my colleagues, this victory is for all of us, by electing me as the Speaker, you have demonstrated to the world that our legislators are living up to the dreams and aspiration. I pledge to you my colleagues that there will be a smooth relationship between the legislative and the executive arms of government in order for us to achieve success”.

Politics of consensus

In the March 18, 2023 Assembly election in Ondo state, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won overwhelming majority  seats clinching  22 out of the 26 constituencies, while the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) won the remaining four seats.

The Housecl members are: Oluwole Emmanuel Ogunmolasuyi Owo I, Oladiji Olamide Ondo East, Ololade Gbegudu Okitipupa II, Abayomi Akinruntan Ilaje I, Morenike Witherspoon Owo II, Olawunmi Fayemi Ilaje II, Princess Tosin Ogunlowo Ajirotutu, Idanre, Chris Ayebusiwa, Okitipupa I , Olatunji Ifabiyi, Odigbo I, Stephen Abitogun, Akure II, Temitope Akokolafe, Ifedore, Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju, Ondo West I, Dr. Christopher Ogunlana, Irele, Mrs Morenike Witherspoon, Owo II, Oladapo John Biola, Ondo West II, Messiah Allen, Ese-Odo, Oluwarotimi Fasonu, Odigbo II, Oshatti Olatunji Emmanuel, Ose; Murtala Suleiman, Akoko South East; Fatai Tiamiyu Atere, Akoko North West 1; Victor Japhet, Akoko North East, Kolawole Ologede, Akure North Oguntodu Olajide, Akure I, Oluwatoyin Daodu, Akoko Southwest I, Tope Agbulu, Akoko Southwest II, and Felix Afe, Akoko Northwest II.

Therefore, mathematically, it was expected that the ruling party will dominate the house and will be producing the leadership of the house, through a rancour-free process. Before the consensus and unpossessed election of Oladiji and Akiruntan, the battle for the speakership was a straight fight between —Hon Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi (Owo 1, the former Majority Leader); Hon Oladiji Olamide (Ondo East, former Deputy Majority Leader) and Hon Abayomi Akinruntan (Ilaje 1).

Also, Hon Ololade Gbegudu (Okitipupa 11)  jostled to be Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly but later jettisoned his ambition. The four aforementioned aspirants are all returning and ranking members among the 26 lawmakers.

How Oladiji and Akirurutan emerged

The 56-year-old Hon Oladiji (popularly known as Landmark) is from Ondo Central and he’s  the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, and also the Vice Chairman of the State House of Aseembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He had earlier bagged a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti in 1998. Landmark had also studied and bagged Ordinary National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic Unwana Afikpo in Ebonyi State.

Also,  49-year-old Abayomi Akinruntan (popularly known as Abba) from Ondo South  was elected Deputy Speaker. He was the Parliamentary Secretary of the 9th Assembly and he attended Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.

According to established convention, the first three political positions in the state –governor, deputy governor, and speaker of the House of Assembly – are shared among the three senatorial districts.

Although, zoning of the State Assembly is not a constitutional matter, the essence of zoning is for justice, equity and fairness and such yardstick was adopted leading to the emergence of Oladiji and Akirurutan as speaker and deputy speaker respectively.

Other very important factors to consider in the choice of House of Assembly Speaker include ranking status, hierarchy in the Assembly, competence, integrity, leadership qualities and ability to seamlessly command respect among members of the House.

 The state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is from the northern zone and the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, hails from the southern senatorial district.

Thus, politics of APC led by the Chairman,  Ade Adetimehin and the Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu came into play, believing that the speaker’s  emergence from the central zone would make it easier for the management of any possible crisis.

Although Akeredolu had earlier denied having any interest in who becomes the speaker, but finding by THISDAY showed that the Governor and the party leadership prefer Oladiji due to his “loyalty”.

Akeredolu’s Interference

Earlier, Governor Akeredolu, in his bid to proof his aloofness in the position, at the two-day induction programme organised for the lawmakers-elect assured  of his administration’s non-interference in its affairs.

He said his administration holds dearly and respects the principle of separation of powers among the three organs of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

His words: “Against the backdrop of an independent Assembly, you would be expected to legislate properly and effectively, with a view to promoting good governance and development for the overall benefit of our people”.

Akeredolu,  represented by the state Deputy Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, described the legislature as the engine room of democracy, noting that his administration had a robust relationship with the Ninth assembly and urged the incoming 10th assembly on same for continued development.

Also, in his congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, Governor Akeredolu tasked the  newly inaugurated 10th Assembly to prioritise the interests of the people of the state in the discharge of their duties.

The Governor urged the lawmakers to see their assignments as a service to the people of the state who elected them as representatives.

According to him: “Legislation is a crucial assignment and one of the most important instruments of government in organizing, developing, and stabilizing society and protecting citizens. I congratulate our newly inaugurated lawmakers. Your people have invested trust and confidence in you. You must strive to justify the mandate the people invested in you through quality representation.

“Let me quickly commend you for the smooth conduct in electing principal officers of the House. I congratulate the new Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, and Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan, and other principal officers of the House. You have once again displayed the true spirit of the Sunshine State. Our character and principles have always been our most valued treasures. We are a people of honour and integrity.

“It is our hope and belief that the new Assembly, through its leadership, will have a smooth working relationship with our administration. We are committed to any idea or process that will accelerate the development of our state”.

He added that the last Assembly displayed diligence, maturity, and understanding in supporting the executive arm of government to manage the affairs of the state.

On a final note, the 10th House presiding officers in the sunshine state must maintain peaceful executive-legislative relationship by displaying diligence, maturity and understanding at all times.