By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

As the struggle for the position of speakership in the Oyo State House of Assembly intensifies, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state has said it would be a sheer waste of time for anybody to be running from pillar to post wanting to get selected.

Though the party has said zoning would not be one of the criteria for selecting who becomes the Speaker of the state eighth legislative arm, the political situation in the state may not make this happen.

The five geo-political zones in the state comprise Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun, and Ibarapa. Currently, two legislators, Mr. Michael Adeyemo representing Ibarapa East and Olusegun Olaleye Olaniyi aka radical representing Ibadan North 11 are contesting the highest legislative position in the legislative arm. Both of them are re-elected lawmakers and wield a lot of influence among their colleagues.

Another experienced legislator who could have equally been a credible aspirant for the position is Mr. Kola Bolomope who defected from Accord to APC before the election. But, he was not re-elected. Out of the 32 seats available, APC has 18 seats, Accord 8 and Labour 6. The Peoples Democratic Party does not have a single seat in the House as against 8 which it had in 2011.

Monsurat Sunmonu

Even though, zoning would not be used, many observers believe the position will not emerge from Ibadan which produced   Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Doing so, would run contrary to the political equation in the state.

While speaking with Vanguard on the modalities to be used in the selection of the Speaker, Chief Akin Oke, the State APC Chairman said it should not be a source of worry.

According to him, all necessary considerations would be used in selecting who becomes the speaker. While stressing that zoning is certainly not one of the criteria, he said the party would not compromise standard, experience, quality, integrity while sourcing for the right candidate.

Chief Oke added that anybody lobbying for the position may as well be wasting his time as the party would soon call its members together to decide which zone produces the Speaker. To him, since the broom party has the majority in the House, it is certain that the party would produce the Speaker and wherever he comes from does not matter.

Underscoring the party’s consideration for quality, he alluded to the performance of the out-going assembly saying the quality of the Speaker, Monsurat Sunmonu did a lot in steering the ship of the legislative arm.

He said, “It is a settled matter that zoning will not be used in choosing who becomes the Speaker. We will bring equity, fairness, quality, integrity and experience into consideration. Zoning is not in our constitution and if anybody goes to court, the court will throw it out. All those running about for the position should have waited for the party. Very soon, we will come together to brainstorm”.

Out of the two aspirants for the position, Olaniyi may not be considered because he comes from Ibadan as the city cannot produce both the governor and the Speaker at the same time while Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and Oyo will look on. The pendulum may swing towards Michael Adeyemo who is seen to have every quality that a speaker should possess. He is matured and credible. He seems to enjoy the confidence of his colleagues who see him as a worthy candidate for the position. In addition, he comes from Ibarapa which appears to have been marginalized. By whatever standard, he is likely to be well-favoured.

NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS

•APC: 18
•ACCORD: 8
•LABOUR: 6
•PDP: 0