By Dayo Johnson, Akure

FOR seven years the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP dominated the Ondo State House of Assembly. The table, however, turned once the Court of Appeal sacked the immediate past governor of the State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu of the PDP about three years ago as majority of the PDP members in the House turned coat and defected to the ruling Labour Party LP.

To consolidate its grip on the legislature and the legislators, the LP in the State did not have any qualms offering the House members its ticket to re-contest the election into the House last April.

It is believed that that was part of the agreement reached with the leadership of the party before they crossed over. Now the LP holds all but one of the twenty-six seats in the State House of Assembly.

Indeed in the last seven years the state has not been lucky to have a vibrant legislature because of the dominance of whichever party that has been at the helm of affairs at the executive branch of government. Before now it was the PDP that dominated when the PDP controlled the governor’s mansion. With an LP man now in the governor’s mansion the LP is in full control of the House.

*Mimiko

Before the serial decamping by the PDP legislators, the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko had to endure some hard tackles from the PDP arising from some of his actions such as the dissolution of the Local Governments. However, with some political deftness he was able to manage the situation.

Among the more vocal members of the House presently are a third term member Dayo Akinsoyinu an educationist (Ondo West 2), a second term member Fidelis Akinwolemiwa an accountant (Ondo East), Oyebo Aladetan (Ilaje 1), Afolabi Akinsiku a lawyer (Ondo West 1) and two of the female lawyers Jumoke Akindele (Okitipupa 1) and Olasehinde Folashade (Ose). These men and women add color to the house in their vibrant discussions.

The relationship between both arms of government has been cordial for now though some oppositionists in the state are skeptical on how long the cordiality can last. LP enthusiasts are, however, confident that their members are well breed and have genuine interest of the state at heart and would not allow their selfish interests to override that of the state and its people.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Samuel Adesina who defected alongside with others to the ruling party in the state in an interview said that the house under him would not be confrontational but would ensure that the government does not derail from its promises to the people of the state.

Adesina said that the Assembly was ready to be a co-driver in moving the state forward. He, however, said that the House would not be a rubber stamp but would cry out and wield its legislative power whenever at any opportunity.

Opposition parties are, however, of the opinion that the House would be at the beck and call of the governor because the majority of members belong to the LP. They said that with only one member of the PDP in the Assembly it would be an easy ride for the executive just like it was during the last administration. But the Speaker disagrees saying that the seventh session would witness cordiality and mutual respect with the executive arm. He said that the members of the assembly in the state are eager to work.

Many in the State nevertheless believe that none of the 25 LP members of the House can dare look the governor eyeball to eye ball because they all rode on his back to return to the Assembly. In fact there is none of the members whose campaign posters did not carry a big picture of the governor!

Still others believe that the Speaker and all the Principal Officers of the Assembly were that lucky to hold the positions because they are in the good book of the governor popularly called “Iroko” and for this reason may find it extremely difficult if not impossible to bite the finger that feed their aspiration to their exalted seats. If all these come to play then, many state matters may be treated as another family issue that should be iron out internally.

The Lawmakers are expected to get N20m each for their constituency projects and an inside sources said that some of them are in trouble over the sharing of the profit with contractors handling the projects.

The state Ministry of Community Development is in charge of the execution of the constituency projects after identification of such and the location by the Lawmakers.

However, with the governorship election approaching there are speculations about opposition parties’ plans to infiltrate the House and cause brouhaha ahead of the governorship battle!