Ekiti, Oyo, and Osun Speakers Unite for Stronger Legislatures in Southwest, Seek Deeper Working Relationship.

Ekiti, Oyo, and Osun Speakers Unite for Stronger Legislatures in Southwest, Seek Deeper Working Relationship. 

In a groundbreaking move to enhance legislative effectiveness in Southwest Nigeria, the Speakers of Ekiti, Oyo, and Osun States have forged a strong working relationship. The resolve to collaborate for the betterment of their respective legislatures and the people they represent was made evident during a recent working visit to the Ekiti State House of Assembly by the legislators from Oyo and Osun.

The visit, part of a collaborative agenda, involved a whistle-stop tour of legislatures in the Southwest. The next stop on this partnership agenda is the Ondo State House of Assembly.

During their visit to Ekiti, the legislators from Oyo and Osun attended a plenary session held in their honor in the hallowed chambers of the Ekiti Assembly. Hon. Johnson Oyekola Bode-Adeoye, the representative of Ekiti West Constituency 2, moved a motion to allow the two visiting Speakers to address the Ekiti Assembly, and Hon. Idowu Odebunmi of Oye Constituency 2 seconded the motion, marking the occasion as "official and historic."

Emphasizing the significance of the parliament as the essence of democracy, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, the Ekiti Speaker, stressed the need for sustained deep, fruitful, and rewarding working relationships among all the Southwest state legislatures. He mentioned that the meeting was a follow-up to a recent gathering in Abuja, where they developed an "one for all, all for one agenda."

Rt. Hon. Aribasoye acknowledged that the legislature faces complex and demanding challenges, and emphasized the importance of safeguarding the institution of parliament by navigating these challenges effectively.

One of the key topics discussed during the meeting was the idea of a digitalized parliament, with the legislators looking to learn from Delta State's experiences in this regard. The Speakers proposed the possibility of a special plenary that would include all six State Assemblies in the Southwest, suggesting that Oyo could host it, and Ekiti would be willing to do so as well.

In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, the Oyo Speaker, described the visit as a handshake between Oyo, Osun, and Ekiti States aimed at fostering interstate collaboration for accelerated development. He emphasized the need to empower the legislature, as the current system tends to empower the executive more than other arms of government. Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin commended the Ekiti Assembly's productivity and stressed the importance of passing quality bills that have a meaningful impact on constituents' lives.

Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, the Osun Speaker, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and called for strengthening the bond between the parliaments of neighboring states. He highlighted the importance of fostering legislative excellence and sharing working experiences through such visits.

The visit concluded with the exchange of gifts among the three Speakers, symbolizing the unity and cooperation achieved during the meeting.

As the three Southwest states' legislatures unite to enhance their roles and responsibilities, this collaborative effort holds promising prospects for strengthening democracy and delivering impactful governance to the people they serve.