Speaker: Ogundoyin, Gafasa, Nwifuru emerge in Oyo, Kano, Ebonyi

The Ninth Assembly in Oyo State, on Monday, elected Adebo Ogundoyin, representing Ibarapa East State Constituency, as its Speaker.
Ogundoyin is from the same constituency as  the late Speaker of the House, Michael Adeyemo.
Mohammed Abiodun-Fadeyi representing Ona Ara State Constituency emerged Deputy Speaker.
Speaking after his election, Ogundoyin thanked his fellow lawmakers for believing in him and giving him the mantle of leadership.
He promised to work tirelessly by making the interest of the people of the state a priority of the House.
“I thank everyone for their support. I appreciate my colleagues for the confidence they have in me.
“ They have so much trust in me and that’s why I am here today and I’m very grateful for this,” he said.
The Speaker also thanked the Peoples Democratic Party for believing in youths and positioning them for political offices.
“The party has so much confidence in youths and this will strengthen me to be able to carry out the responsibilities attached to the office, ” he said.
Ogundoyin promised that the legislative and executive arms of government would work in synergy, so as to deliver the dividends of democracy.
“All members of the House will work to impact on the lives of the good people of the state.
“The people of the state who voted for us deserve the best from us. I promise to run an open door policy.
“My constituency is now enlarged because as the Speaker, I speak for all the  32 constituencies.
“With these tasks I’m saddled with, I dedicate myself to the good people of the state. It’s because of them we are all here today.
“The primary functions of the legislature don’t change. We will concentrate on enacting laws that will better the lives of  indigenes.
“Some of the areas we will be working on are education, healthcare, youth empowerment, infrastructure and security among others,” he said.
Also elected were Akeem Adedibu as Chief Whip, Sanjo Onaolapo as Majority Leader and Asimiyu Alarape as Minority Leader.
Wunmi Oladeji representing Ogbomoso North State Constituency is the only female lawmaker in the Assembly.
Oladeji is one of the three returning members of the eighth Assembly.
Also, the Kano State House of Assembly elected the member representing Ajingi Constituency, Alhaji Abdulaziz Gafasa, as the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.
The election followed his nomination by the member representing Dala constituency, Malam Lawan Hussain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday during the first plenary session of the Assembly.
The nomination was seconded by the member representing Gogewa Constituency, Alhaji Salisu Riruwai.
Gafasa was the speaker of the Assembly during Malam Ibrahim-Shekarau’s second tenure as the governor of the state.
The assembly also elected the member representing Makoda constituency, Hamisu Cidari as the Deputy Speaker for the fourth time while Ayuba Madari representing Warawa constituency,  emerged as the Majority Leader.
Others include, Alhaji Ali Danja, elected as Minority Leader; Alhaji Garba Shehu, Deputy Majority Leader and  Alhaji Ayuba Durum, Chief Whip, among others.
In his acceptance speech, Gafasa thanked the lawmakers for finding him worthy to lead them and pledged to carry all the members along irrespective of party differences.
He assured that the Assembly would enact laws that have direct benefits on the people and the overall development of the state.
“We will work with other arms of government to ensure the state moves forward to compete with other developed countries.
“We will also ensure the enthronement of  legislative autonomy.”
Meanwhile, Mr Francis Nwifuru (PDP–Izzi West), has been re-elected as the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
Nwifuru, who was the speaker of the 5th Assembly, was unanimously re-elected by members during the inauguration of the 6th Assembly on Monday by Governor David Umahi.
Mr Kingsley Ikoro (PDP—Afikpo North West) nominated Nwifuru for the position, while Mr Oliver Osi (PDP–Ivo) seconded the nomination.
Clerk of the House, Mrs Patricia Anasi, who conducted proceedings before the election, proclaimed Nwifuru the speaker.
The House also re-elected Chief Obasi Odefa, who was the Deputy Speaker at the 5th Assembly, as Deputy Speaker.
Umahi during the inauguration noted that Section 105, sub Section 3 of the 1999 Constitution as amended empowered the governor to inaugurate the Assembly.
“The 5th Assembly was rounded-off few hours ago and I hereby proclaim the 6th session of the Ebonyi House of Assembly,” he said.
Nwifuru in his acceptance speech thanked his colleagues for re-electing him and promised to re-double his efforts to ensure the success of the house.
“I thank God for the grace to be re-elected and I promise to diligently deliver on this huge responsibility bestowed on me.
“I urge my colleagues to cooperate with me in ensuring that we deliver on our mandate of making legislations that would enhance the peoples’ wellbeing,” he said.
He announced that after exhaustive consultations and deliberations by party leaders in the state, four principal officers of the House were nominated.
“They include- Mr Victor Chukwu as the House Leader, Kingsley Ikoro—Deputy Leader, Humphrey Nwuruku–(PDP–Ikwo North)–House Whip and Benjamin Ezoma (PDP–Ebonyi North East)– Deputy Whip,” he said.
Nwifuru, the speaker is a third term member of the House while Odefa, the deputy speaker is fourth term member.