Ekiti assembly crisis: It would have been wrong to interfere, says Oyebanji

Biodun Oyebanji, governor of Ekiti, has explained why he did not interfere in the leadership crisis in the state house of assembly.

Oyebanji spoke on Tuesday when Olubunmi Adelugba, the new speaker of Ekiti assembly, was presented to him by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

On Monday, Gboyega Aribisogan was impeached as the speaker after 17 of the 25 members of the assembly voted in favour of his sack.

Thereafter, the lawmakers elected Adelugba as the new speaker.

Before his impeachment, Aribisogan had accused Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of the state, of masterminding a plot to impeach him.

Aribisogan, who represents Ikole constituency 1, was elected as the new speaker of the assembly on November 15, following the death of Funminiyi Afuye, the previous speaker, in October.

Speaking on the recent leadership crisis in the house, the Ekiti governor said it amounts to violation of the constitution if he interferes in the affairs of the state assembly.

“I refused from day one to be drawn into it simply because I swore an oath to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Oyebanji said.

“The constitution is clear on the powers and functions of all the arms of government.

“I am leading the executive arm of government. They don’t interfere in what I do and it will be wrong and a violation of the constitution for me to interfere in what is going on in the house of assembly.

“What I have done as your governor is to ensure that I protect lives and property and that is within my power as the governor of this state.

“I have not interfered, but I’m happy with the outcome. As progressives, we have a culture and the culture is respect for leadership.

“And madam speaker, our budget is before the house of assembly and we are working so hard to ensure that we deliver on our promises to Ekiti people but we cannot violate extant rules and regulations.

“I am appealing for a speedy passage of the budget.”

On her part, Adelugba, the new speaker, said there was no rancour within the state house of assembly.