Ondo Assembly begins proper drilling of 18 Commissioner-designates today

The Ondo State House of Assembly will today (Monday) begin the screening of the commissioner designates sent to the lawmakers for ratification.

It is expected that the nominees would be properly drilled by the lawmakers on their competency and verify the relevant documents submitted to the Assembly.

The House committee on screening and selection is expected today to carry out the proper screening of the nominees for efficient delivery in office.

Daily Times correspondent reported that it is not yet clear if the screening for the nominees would be made public during the plenary of the lawmakers and at the chamber of the Assembly.

But sources said there might not be free flow of movement into the premises of the Assembly as the lawmakers are set for the business of the screening.

One of the sources who begged not to be named as he was not authorized to talk said there might be tight security at the front gate of the Assembly to guide against unnecessary rancour from some supporters and family members inside the Assembly complex.

The names of the nominees to be screened are (1) Femi Agagu, (Okitipupa), (2) Gboyega Adefarati, (Akoko South West), (3) Taofeek Abdusalam (Akoko North East), (4) Yemi Olowolabi, (Idanre), (5) Wale Akinterinwa, ( Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo), (6) Wahab Adegbenro (Ifedore).

(7) Solagbade Amodeni, (Akoko South East); (8) Rasheed Badmus, (Akoko North West), (9) Omowumi Olatunji (Akure South), (10)Emmanuel Igbasan, (Irele), (11) Funso Esan, (Ilaje).

(12) Olurimisi Ismaila, (Odigbo), (13) Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, (Akure North), (14) Ojogo Donald (Ese-Odo), (15) Bayonle Ademodi, (Ondo East), (16) Lola Fagbemi, (Ondo West), (17) Timilehin Adelegbe, (Ose), (18) Kole Olawoye, (Owo).

Although the screening was earlier fixed for last Friday, it was but later suspended after a closed door meeting between the leadership of the Assembly and the nominees.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had last Monday submitted the names of 18 commissioner-designates to the House of Assembly for confirmation.

The lists of the names which mostly contained party loyalists are to form the members of Mr. Akeredolu’s kitchen cabinet for the next four years in office.

Daily Times observed that the last week Friday meeting was held at the office the Speaker of the Assembly, Bamidele Oleyeloogun, and was also attended by the nominees which were drawn from the local council areas of the state.

Earlier, some journalists who stormed the venue of the meeting were prevented entry by the security agents manning the office of the Assembly Speaker.

“Only the nominees are allowed entry into the meeting point even their aides have been asked to stay at the lobby” a mobile policeman said.

However, shortly after the meeting none of the nominees was willing to discuss the outcome of their meeting with the lawmakers when approached by anxious reporters.

Our correspondent who visited the Assembly complex reported that many of the nominees were only beaming with smiles as they came out of the meeting being aided by their family members.

But speaking, a top principal officer of the Assembly hinted that the screening was postponed due to some “personal reasons” that need the attention of the lawmakers.

He said that the nominees though held a meeting with the members of the House Committee on Screening and Selection.

“Well, the leadership of the Assembly met with the nominees especially those of them who are really new but nothing much was actually discussed.

“We had a brief introduction and use the opportunity to reemphasized on the need for the 18 nominees to submit the photocopies of their credentials.

“In fact, we saw some of them with their documents but we have instructed that it should be submitted to the secretary of the House committee on selection and screening.

“So, we quickly have to discharge them in order to also attend to some bills that is in need of urgent public attention.

“I am very sure by Monday some of them would have to reconvene here at the Assembly for the proper screening which would be a close door process” he said.

Meanwhile, sources within the Assembly told the Daily Times that some of the nominees might have petitions hanging on their neck.

“At least I know of two nominees from the lists that have petitions hanging on their neck and their names are still being questioned.

“Even, the leaders of the various local governments they represents have raised questions on how some of them worked against the party (APC) during the governorship elections.

“And some of these people served under the previous governments in the state and we know their competency.

“We also know how corruption and impunity strived when they were in office at that time” one of the source said.

But the Assembly has denied having any petition against the eighteen nominees forwarded to the lawmakers by Governor Akeredolu.