Ogun new assembly inaugurated, elects new leaders

The 26-member Ogun State House of Assembly was yesterday inaugurated by the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun with a charge to all political office holders in the State to aim at rendering selfless service to the State.

The Eighth Assembly, which immediately went into the election of its leaders, after the governor’s proclamation was read, elected the former speaker of the immediate past assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi as the new Speaker.

The Governor reminded members of both the Legislature and Executive that the task ahead of them was enormous and expressed the hope that they would excel in their assignments so that at the end of their tenure, they would be remembered as Statesmen and not as politicians.

He asked all political office holders to conduct themselves in a modest manner so as to justify the confidence the people reposed in them.

Amosun said expectations of the people were very high hence it was needful for both the executive and the legislature to cooperate with each other so as to execute the government’s programmes without any distraction.

“We have an enormous task on our hands. In doing this, we will have to realize and decide on which side of the divide we want to be and how we want to be remembered, either as statesmen or as politicians”, Amosun said.

His words, “The Seventh Legislature has become history but the major achievements of this administration could not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of the legislative arm”.

“I also enjoin the newly elected members to ensure that you learn fast as there is little or no time to be spent in learning the ropes”.

According Amosun, “I must confess that the challenges of the past four years were undoubtedly daunting and the experience rewarding. The experience has been worthwhile in the sense that most of the promises that we made in our campaign manifesto have been fully delivered to the nooks and crannies of our State”

“I do not see the results of the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections of 11 April, 2015, as a mere coincidence. I see a divine hand at work in that we both received our mandate on the same day, through the same process. This simply means we both have a joint task to fast-track the physical development of our dear State and improve the lives of our people”, the Governor affirmed.

He added, “I wish to assure you all of my determination to create, nurtured and sustain a relationship between the Executive and other arms of Government. This is the time to break new grounds and set new records, thereby writing our names on the sands of time”

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the last general election in the state, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka has charged legislators elected on the platform of the party to support any bill seeking to improve the lot of the people.

Isiaka made the call while playing host to the nine lawmakers elected
on the platform of the party at the Oke Mosan secretariat in Abeokuta.

He insisted that the welfare of the people of the State should be paramount to the legislators irrespective of party affiliations.

The PDP Chieftain called on his guests to “block” any bill that would promote personal interests.

“This opportunity to serve your constituencies is a call to service.
You must see yourselves as eyes and ears of the people to better their lot. Any bill that seeks to promote the well being of our people should therefore be wholeheartedly supported by all. But I should say this and I will make myself very clear. Any bill that seeks to promote personal interest of anybody should be thrown away,” he affirmed.

Isiaka, who described the loss of PDP at the last election as temporary assured party faithful that “PDP will bounce back in a big way before the next elections.”