Make the best out of bad economy — Ashiru charges Legislators
By Matthew Denis
The Group Chairman of Odu’a Investment, Otumba Bimbo Ashiru has tasked the Ekiti state House of Assembly to enact laws that will transform the bad situation of the economy to the best.
He made the disclosure during a one day Retreat Organised by Ekiti state House of Assembly under the able leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye recently.
The Chairman said, “Make the best out of the bad situation by not thinking about yourselves but the masses.”
This, according to him, will attract more foreign investments into the state, Southwest and the Country at large.
The Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Alhaja Habibat Adubiaro who represented Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji provided avenue where the Lawmakers showcase their legislative potentials to encourage investors to the State through the enactment of laws that can make the State conducive for Investment.
The Governor described the event as unprecedented in the history of the State Assembly adding that the Executive arm of government would work in tandem with the vision and mission of the legislature to realize their goals and that the event showed clearly that the Seventh Assembly members are passionate about the development of the State going by the theme of the retreat: “Enhancing Socio – Economic Development of Ekiti State through the private sector and foreign direct investment: The roles of the legislature.”
She used the occasion to call on investors from home and abroad to see Ekiti State as a viable place for investment, the event which had in attendance the United States Consulaire General to Nigeria, Mr Will Stevens, Political dignitaries, Captain of Industries, Chairman Cavista Holdings Mr Niyi John Olajide, former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi and other keynote Speakers.
The Speaker who doubles as the convener of the one-day retreat, said he was motivated by the former Governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi barely three months ago and thanked the former Governor for his leadership roles.
He commended the sponsor, Chairman Cavista Holdings, Mr Niyi John Olajide, for shouldering the responsibility involved in the course of organizing a retreat of such magnitude.
Hon. Aribasoye lauded his colleagues in the 7th Assembly, National Assembly members in attendance, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for justice Barrister Dayo Apata (SAN) for their support and passion for the development of Ekiti State adding that the retreat would be one of the programmes in the legislative arm which will be observed annually not forgetting the roles of the legislative bureaucrats through the Clerk of the House and other management staff.
Speaking on behalf of the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria, the Chairman National Conference of Speaker and the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin said he was elated to be part of the success stories initiated by the Ekiti State House of Assembly and wished that all other states in Nigeria would replicate it, particularly in the Southwest States.
He appealed to the Ekiti State House of Assembly urging them to sustain the tempo by collaborating with the state government to take the state to greater heights.
Delivering the Lecture, the lead Speaker, Mr John Olajide Chairman, Cavista Holdings and the sponsor of the programme spoke on the journey of the Cavista Holdings to Ekiti State and how he harnessed the underlying potentials of Ikogosi warm resorts some years ago before he got to its present height in the comity of tourist centre in Africa.
The keynote Speaker and former Governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi described Ekiti State as the knowledge capital of Nigeria and intellectual hub of Africa.
The former Governor suggested how to tap the untapped resources in the State and convert it to economic assets, and charged Ekiti people to see all government projects as government projects, not as individual, particularly when there is change of government from one government to another.
