EKITI ASSEMBLY SCREENS 68-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER AS COMMISSIONER-NOMINEE.

EKITI ASSEMBLY SCREENS 68-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER AS COMMISSIONER-NOMINEE.

....Speaker urges nominees to connect with people in grassroots.

The screening of commissioner-nominees continued at the Ekiti State House of Assembly on Tuesday with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye admonishing them to connect well with the people in the grassroots when confirmed for the position.

A 68-year-old pensioner, Dr. Kareem Akande, was among the three nominees screened by the Assembly at Tuesday's plenary where the legislators asked various questions on their suitability for the office they have been nominated for by Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

Dr. Akande who holds a PhD in Islamic Studies retired as a Chief Lecturer at the College of Education where he occupied positions of Head of Department and Dean and later served as part-time lecturer at Ekiti State University.

Other nominees screened for the day were a three-time Commissioner and two-time Special Adviser, Chief Folorunso Olabode and a former Senior Legislative Aide in the National Assembly and aviation professional, Mr. Adesola Gold Adedayo.

Both Dr. Akande and Mr. Adedayo are from Moba Local Government while Chief Olabode is from Ilejemeje Local Government. The plenary of Tuesday drew the curtain on the screening of nominees from Ekiti North Senatorial District which commenced on Monday.

If confirmed, Chief Olabode promised to bring his experience to bear to assist the Oyebanji Administration realize its six pillars agenda and consolidate on the gains achieved during the two tenures of former Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi in which he was privileged to serve.

Mr. Adedayo, who also described himself as a farmer described the Ekiti Airport as a catalyst for generation of jobs through agribusiness, commerce, tourism and connection of the state to the outside world and influx of investors to its economy.

Dr. Akande said the experience he had acquired as an academic would come in handy in whatever ministry he is posted to if confirmed by the Assembly noting that his nomination is an opportunity to make impact in politics and governance.

Speaking as Dr. Akande was about concluding his response to questions from the legislators, the Speaker said what attracted his attention was the fact that the nominee was born in 1955 which shows that he is 68 years old.

Rt. Hon. Aribasoye said he had wanted to offer the nominee a chair to sit down while responding to questions but had to change his mind to allow the nominee to prove that he is physically fit to respond to questions while he was standing before the legislators.

The Speaker who was impressed with Dr. Akande's performance and for demonstrating physical fitness despite his advanced age urged the nominee to transform to a politician having been an academic all his life.

While emphasizing that the position the retiree was nominated for is a political one, the Speaker urged him to identify with leaders of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his ward and local government for proper orientation and internalization ahead of his confirmation.

The Speaker counselled the nominee to work together with key party figures, present and past political office holders in the ward, local government and federal constituency levels to ensure that the dividends of democracy reach the people in the grassroots when eventually confirmed as Commissioner.

Based on the experience Chief Olabode had garnered in the two administrations led by former Governor Fayemi, the Speaker urged him to always impress it on the prospective cabinet members to know that they are accountable to the people of the state when they become commissioners.

Rt. Hon. Aribasoye said: "Members or the executive must know that they are accountable to the people of the state through this House. I want you to remind them that there is need for them to render their reports to the House when called upon to do so.

"It is incumbent on them to honour the summons of this House and we will never be frivolous, we will never be frivolous at all. We want to warn commissioners and those holding positions to be accountable to the people of this state.

"Even Mr. Governor comes here to present the State of the State Address to render his account of stewardship. This Seventh Assembly will want to see the account of stewardship of every ministry having appropriated funds for them before another appropriation. This is a constitutional provisions and in line with the Standing Order of the House."

The screening of commissioner-nominees from the Ekiti Central Senatorial District continues on Wednesday.