Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji has given kudos to All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Sen.Bola Tinubu for signing into law the first self accounting bill of state legislature in the country.
Addressing members of the Media and Publicity Committee of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for Lagos State, Hon.Ikuforiji said the event demonstrated Tinubu’a commitment to the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the Constiturion.
Ikuforiji, who was elected from Epe as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2003 and was speaker for 10 years, believes the fact that Tinubu was well exposed to the democratic system in United States and began politics as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must have influenced him to agree with the lawmakers to make the law in the first term of his administration.
He said the fact the National Assembly passed a bill last year compelling state governments to enact the self-accounting laws for their Houses of Assembly shows that Tinubu is a trail blazer and visionary.
He said the Presidency under Tinubu will ensure harmonious relationship with the National Assembly to fasttrack socio-economic development of the country.
Ikuforiji who became the Speaker in 2005 and remains the longest serving for ten years noted that the cordial relationship that existed between the executive and Legislative arms of government was responsible for a new Lagos uncovered by the Tinubu led government.
According to him, the former Lagos State Governor made it possible for the Lagos House of Assembly to become the envy of other houses due to the autonomy of the House of Assembly.
“The freedom the House enjoyed during the Tinubu government is unparalleled.
You will recall that it was a tug of war then between the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the National Assembly, whereas
the financial autonomy the house enjoyed made it possible for peace to reign supreme in the state.” he added.
Speaking further, Ikuforiji said as the became the Speaker, there was mutual respect between himself and Tinubu as governor.
” If he wants to do something that I believe won’t fly, I would tell him so. Because he knows that the development of the House of Assembly as a democratic institution guided me, he would think about it again”.
He said a lot of discussion between the executive preceeded the enactment of bills into laws so that both arms could agree on the importance of such laws for the public good.
Kuforiji noted that, as the policemen of the system, members of the House performed oversight functions on ministries, departments and agencies without the interference of Governor Tinubu.
Rather, Tinubu as governor made it clear to commissioners and permanent secretaries to supply all the necessary information to enable lawmakers perform.their oversight functions.
He described the APC Presidential candidate as a good listener who worked with the legislators to make laws which led to the giant strides of the state.
Speaking earlier, the Lagos Chairman, APC PCC Media and Publicity Committee, Hon Kehinde Bamgbetan said the session was to bring back the memory of how the Tinubu led government worked closely with the House of Assembly in the overall benefits of Lagosians.
He explained that the forum was also to showcase what Nigerians will benefit under the Tinubu Presidency in terms of Legislative interventions.
