7th October, 2015
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
The Ogun State House of Assembly Wednesday began screening of commissioner nominees forwarded to it by the state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, last week.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun forwarded the list of sixteen commissioner nominees and 20 Special Advisers.
He further sent additional three nominees on Tuesday to the house for screening and confirmation.
At Wednesday’s session, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Surajudeen Ishola Adekunbi, informed the house about the screening of the nominees forwarded to them by the governor for confirmation.
The first to be called was the former Speaker of the House and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Muyiwa Oladipo, who was said to have asked for more time before appearing later in the day.
The next nominee screened was the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Yewande Amusan.
Several questions were asked by the lawmakers and she was equally up to the task as she was applauded for her charisma and wealth of experience.
The Speaker commended the nominee for her achievements when she was the Commissioner, urging her to be ready to serve at any ministry she finds herself, having perused her certificate and confidently believed she is capable to handle any ministry.
When it was the turn of the former Special Assistant on Legal Matters to the Senate President, Barr. Adeleke Adewolu, he was commended by the lawmakers and one of them, (Mrs) Yetunde Sogbein suggested that he should be allowed to take a bow and leave.
Her suggestion was taken mildly as most of the lawmakers spoke well of him and wished him well in his future endeavour.
Arch. Olamilekan Adegbite, the former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure was the next to be screened.
One of the lawmakers representing Ijebu North East Constituency, Jimi Otukoya appealed to the nominee,who many believed will be returned to the same ministry he occupied in the last administration, to assist in doing more to fix some roads within the local government area.
He mentioned Eruwon – Atan road and many more roads in the area that needed urgent attention.
Virtually all the lawmakers used the opportunity to speak about the bad condition of roads in their various constituencies, charging the nominee to ensure that projects, this time around, must be evenly distributed across the state and not to be centred in one area.
The Speaker called the attention of his colleagues to the fact that, the nominee was a former Commissioner for Works, but that it was the prerogative of the governor to know where he will be posted to this time around.
In his response, the Abeokuta-born Environmental Engineer assured that all uncompleed projects in the state would be completed, adding that the state governor, being the captain of the team, is doing everything within his reach to move the state forward.
He gave assurance that more innovations are in the offing and called the people of the state to remain calm and continue to support the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in his rebuilding mission in the state.
When Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo, a former Speaker and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs arrived for the screening, he was given standing ovation by all the lawmakers.
Addressing the lawmakers, the Speaker, who addressed the former lawmaker as ‘our grandpa’, commended the fatherly role the former lawmaker has been playing to support the Ibikunle Amosun administration.
Adekunbi called on the lawmakers, as a mark of respect, to allow the fifth Speaker of the State House of Assembly to take a bow and leave, which was applauded by all with a standing ovation.
In his remarks, the former Commissioner said: “I feel elated for the honour given to me today. I’m greatly honoured for what you did to me today. God will in His infinite mercy continue to uplift and honour you too.
“I’m happy seeing you my grandsons in the last administration and now seeing my great grandsons now. I’m happy for you and want to assure you of my utmost support at any time you all beckon on me.”
There was a thunderous ovation as Oladipo was about to leave the room.
As at the time of filling this report, another former Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, was facing the screening committee.