Why we’re called rubber stamp– Osun Speaker

From Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo
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The outgoing Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Dr Najeem Salam said the state parliament was referred to as rubber stamp due to the cordial relationship with the former governor of the state.

Salam disclosed this during the valedictory service organised for outgoing lawmakers in Osogbo.

He said “If working with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to pursue the interest of the state and its continuous development qualified us as rubber stamp, we were not in any way deterred.”

Salam while commending the fruitful working relationship with Aregbesola noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) party has its blueprint and manifesto on governance to which the house gave its best in the pursuit of progressive programmes for the state.

The Speaker appreciated members of the parliament for giving him the opportunity to serve them stressing that their support was evident in their selflessness, dedication to service and decorum demonstrated throughout their legislative debates and committee deliberation sessions of the House.

He commended them for depriving themselves the entitlement to official cars in a bid to cut the cost of governance and ensure that the meagre resources of the state were channelled to infrastructural development, youth employment and the school feeding programme.

“I must commend you all because this selflessness was instrumental to the replication of the State noble programmes at the national level. For example, the N-Power could be likened to the O-YES, and the school feeding programme which has endeared many of our children to schools began in this Land of Virtue,” he said.

Salam noted that during his tenure there was no a fisticuffs, mace theft or kickboxing due to the high level of thoughtfulness and decorum engendered their unbeaten records as lawmakers worthy of emulation.

He listed the achievements of the 8th Assembly to include: the Staff Autonomy which became more efficient through the State House of Assembly Commission, the facelift of the Assembly Complex, the Assembly Chapel and the Assembly Electronic Library which facilitates Honourable Members’ access to quality information resources on legislative procedures and democratic governance among several bills passed to strengthen the peace of the state.

He enjoined prospective successor to work with other arms of government with a view to enhancing the development in the State while also upholding the independence of the legislature.

He urged the successor to be very patient in all his dealings, just and be a listening leader to all sides of the divides.

“I was in no way perfect but having listened to all divides with rapt attention and objectivity within and outside the chamber greatly enriched my political and administrative knowledge base.

“I must confess that the journey so far with all my colleagues here was really worth it and eye-opening to your depth of understanding and grasp of issues bothering on governance”, he said.