The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State is protesting what it describes as the persecution of a member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports on the latest power play and intrigues.
Governor Ayo Fayose’s, hold on Ekiti State House of Assembly appears to be under threat, following the defection of the lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency1, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The foundation for Aribisogan’s defection was laid with his suspension for 180 legislative days by the lawmakers who accused him of anti-party activities and disloyalty to Fayose.
Aribisogan was accused of holding meetings with personalities perceived to be opponents of Fayose in Lagos. In the heat of the PDP crisis, Fayose’s loyalists alleged that the lawmaker was holding meetings with the Senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Prince Buruji Kashamu, an allegation Aribisogan vehemently denies.
The House, which was acting at the behest of Fayose, set up an investigation committee led by the legislator representing Ido/Osi Constituency II, Hon. Abiola Jeje.
The panel played an audio tape at its sitting, which it claimed was the voice of Aribisogan at the Lagos meeting which he (Aribisogan) described as “bogus, phoney and false and manipulated in a bid to frame him up and achieve a predetermined conclusion.”
The ding-dong continued for weeks, until Aribisogan was slammed with suspension while his privileges as a member of the House withdrawn. Aribisogan said the Constitution and Standing Order does not provide for a suspension of 180 days but only 14 days.
After the suspension, Aribisogan granted some press interviews in which he asserted his innocence and maintained that the independence of the state legislature has been eroded by Fayose’s “overbearing control.”
On June 8, Aribisogan stormed the House with a letter from his constituents that he should go back to his office because Ikole Constituency 1 was being denied representation. Although the lawmakers did not sit on that day, ostensibly to avoid Aribisogan, he submitted the letter from the Clerk, Mr. Tola Esan.
The House, at a plenary shortly after Aribisogan’s action, ratified his suspension, claiming that the lawmaker had not shown any sense of remorse.
The PDP chairman Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the alleged anti-party activities against Aribisogan.
The panel had former Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. Ayodele Michael as Chairman and Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Mr. Dapo Olagunju as Secretary.
Other members are former Commissioner for Environment, Bisi Kolawole; Mr. Yinka Olomofe and Mr. Tolulope Awoniyi.
But, Aribisogan refused to appear before the panel, alleging that it was set up to carry out a hatchet job and that he would never get a fair hearing as its members are cronies and lackeys of Fayose.
The lawmaker outfoxed the Fayose camp before the panel turned in its report. He decamped to the APC on June 27 at a ceremony in his hometown of Ijesa Isu in Ikole Local Government Area with about 200 other PDP members.
He was received by the APC executive council, led by the Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, on behalf of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and the State Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, at Ijesa Isu Ward 7.
The action of the lawmaker has elicited joy in the opposition camp which has now been afforded an opportunity to challenge the PDP’s dominance in the House and cast a slur on Fayose’s boast that there is no opposition in the state parliament.
Aribisogan hinged his action on the division in the PDP, which according to him, has made his stay in the party “extremely difficult.”
He vowed that “all efforts to silence the opposition voice from Ekiti political space is resisted” because democracy allows for objective criticisms and separation of powers which is the principle of the rule of law.
Aribisogan said he took the decision to join APC after due consultation with his constituents and pursuant to Section 109, sub-section 1(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
He said: “Democracy is all about good governance, service delivery, community and state interest. A situation where a political party like PDP is dangling precariously between survival and extinction could no longer provide enabling political environment to provide good governance and political engineering.
“Therefore as a representative of my people, I have no option than to go along with them by moving to a party that will continue to protect their collective interest.
“I want to assure my supporters and my new political party of my absolute commitment and loyalty in pursuance of the party’s set objectives and goals. I pledge to be a true party man wh will join hands with the progressives to remove he albatross called PDP from Ekiti State political space in the coming days.”
Speaking on behalf of other decampees, Chief Odofin said they were tired of a leader who is the party chairman at all levels and at the sam time occupies the positions of governor, commissioners, local government chairmen, councillors.
Mrs. Olaleye, who could not hide her excitement, said the defection of the lawmaker was an indication that Fayose and is party, PDP are no longer popular in the state.
Olaleye appreciated the party leadership at Ijesa Isu Ward and Ikole Local Government “for bringing a big fish into the progressives fold.” She noted that Aribisogan is not only a pride of Ijesa Isu but also a pride of Ekiti.
She assured Aribisogan of equal rights and privileges with other APC leaders and members he met in the party.
The battle has assumed another dimension as Aribisogan alleged that Fayose and the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Kola Oluwawole, have raised a killer squad to assassinate him. He forwarded a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.
Aribisogan gave Oluwawole, whom he claimed had usurped the constitutional powers of the Speaker, 14 days to relinquish the position of Speaker.
He accused Fayose of committing “a serious constitutional breach” by reappointing six out of the sacked commissioners and ordering them to assume in their respective ministries without undergoing screening and clearance of the House of Assembly.
As Aribisogan was addressing reporters on Tuesday, July 11, his colleagues were holding a plenary where he was slammed with an indefinite suspension for acts unbecoming of a honourable member.
The motion to suspend Aribisogan indefinitely was moved by Hon. Tunji Akinyele and seconded by Hon. Wale Onigiobi after which the legislators adjourned indefinitely.
House Committee Chairman, Hon. Samuel Omotoso, denied Aribisogan’s allegation that the Speaker had raised a killer squad to eliminate the embattled lawmaker. He accused Aribisogan of invading the Assembly complex with thugs on June 8 in an attempt to resume legislative duties. He said the killer squad allegation only exists in his (Aribisogan’s) imagination.
