By Ralph Oluwatoyin
A prominent member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, has applauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for involving party’s top hierarchies in the composition of his cabinet.
Aribasoye, who is the Chairman ,House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, stated that the fact that Governor Oyebanji set up a committee to look into the competence and credentials of would-be cabinet members, confirmed his attachment to the doctrines of party supremacy and the inclusive governance.
Governor Oyebanji, had last week set up a committee, chaired by an elderstatesman ,Chief George Akosile and top echelons of the party to probe into the antecedents, competence and relevance of those to be composed into every level of appointment in his cabinet.
Reacting to the step taken by the governor, the lawmaker, representing Ikole constituency 2, hailed Governor Oyebanji for showing enormous respect to the party, by exhibiting propensity for reward mechanism to promote party’s acceptability.
Aribasoye, who was reelected in the last general election to represent the constituency, posited that such move will ensure that the right people, with competence and full grasp of the political issues are composed into the cabinet for better performance.
The lawmaker urged the committee to remain steadfast in conducting thorough checks on those being mooted to mount leadership positions, describing this as one of the best impetuses that will make the country gets it right in the leadership pedestal .
Aribasoye said building democracy around the people as demonstrated by the governor will promote good governance and restore hope to the less privileged.
He said; “Our governor, Biodun Oyebanji, is demonstrating that the ultimate power belongs to the people. Going by the stipulate of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the governors enjoyed unfettered latitudes to select whoever they wanted into their cabinets. But such unilateral action often brewed ill-feelings in the system.
“During his electioneering campaign across Ekiti, the governor openly pledged that he will return power to the people. By setting up a committee to look into the credentials of the party men and qualified Ekiti people to make up his cabinet shows that he has started walking the talk. He is truly a promised keeper.
“Our democracy has fledged to a level that we must start embracing party supremacy and government of inclusion. That is what democracy is all about. It is about the people.
“Of all the 3Ps of democracy: The People, The Party and Politics, the People is the most important. Any party or politician without people around him is like a General without troops.
“Governor Oyebanji has acted truly like a General with troops and this substantiated how committed he was to win the wars against all forms of challenges confronting our dear state.
“The Committee parades eminent politicians like former Deputy Governor, experienced retired bureaucrats, youths and experts from private sector. I know they will do the governor, the party and Ekiti people in general proud with the outcome of their exercise”.
