THE embattled Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, has reacted to the alleged directive by Governor Ayodele Fayose, asking the Commissioner of Police to arrest the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the state.
Omirin, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, said that the APC lawmakers acted within the law to conduct their sitting in a public building in the state capital last Friday.
He said, “The governor or the police cannot arrest us for performing our constitutional duty. Section 101 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes it explicit that the House can regulate its activities, including conducting its sittings in public buildings in the state capital.
“The Supreme Court had also ruled that the House can conduct its sittings in public places in the state capital if conditions exist that endanger members in the conduct of their sittings.
“Governor Fayose has kept armed thugs permanently in the House of Assembly to attack us. We can’t put ourselves in harm’s way, yet we have a responsibility to our constituents to make laws for good governance. That is why we followed the law to sit to consider issues on the ongoing constitutional amendment.”
Omirin explained that the House had a responsibility to respond to the National Assembly demand to send Ekiti State contributions to the constitutional amendment process.
“Ekiti State has just one House of Assembly. That is why the National Assembly acknowledged the receipt of our resolutions on the constitutional amendment.
“If they are sure of their status, let them approach the National Assembly or the judiciary for recognition,” he added.
Omirin said it was regrettable that Fayose had not learnt from his past experience when he allegedly instigated a constitutional crisis that led to the declaration of the state of emergency and the governor’s impeachment in 2006.
He told the Ekiti CP, Taiwo Lakanu, not to allow himself to be dragged into the political fray in the state, warning that the governor would bear the consequences if he caused conditions that could threaten good governance in Ekiti.