The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has dismissed speculation of planned suspensions, harassment, or victimisation of lawmakers in the 10th Assembly following recent political developments in the state.
Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Ogundoyin reassured members that the Assembly’s leadership is committed to fairness, equity, and the protection of democratic values in its operations.
“The leadership of the OYHA understands the mandate given to it from our various constituencies. Categorically speaking, on behalf of the House leadership, no one is going to be victimised based on recent happenings,” he said.
While making this assurance, the Speaker cautioned against attempts to use the legislative institution for political advantage. With the election season approaching, he noted that some individuals might seek to stir unnecessary controversies to gain attention from their political parties.
“If any member is trying to gain sympathy from his political party, he or she should not use the legislative institution. Go back to your constituency, move motions, attend oversight functions, relate well, canvass and facilitate projects, and perform your legislative duties,” Ogundoyin warned.
He stressed that while the Assembly has no intention of arbitrarily sanctioning any lawmaker, its authority must not be taken for granted. “Despite our plan not to victimise anybody, members should not take the authority of the House for granted,” he added.
Ogundoyin also highlighted some of the economic gains recorded under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration. He pointed to improvements in debt management and revenue generation, noting that Oyo State has grown its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) without raising taxes. According to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), the state also maintains the lowest foreign debt profile in the South West.
“Lagos State has the highest internal debt in the South West, while Oyo State is fourth. This shows the financial discipline of the current administration,” the Speaker said.
He concluded by reaffirming the independence and responsibility of the Assembly, urging lawmakers to prioritize effective representation and legislative performance over political distractions.