Oyo Assembly Member, Babajide, Journalist Make Peace
A member of the Oyo House of Assembly representing Ibadan North Constituency II, Gabriel Babajide, has made peace with
Dapo Ibikunle, the assembly correspondent chairman.
The two agreed to reconcile on Monday after the intervention of the executive members of the Assembly, and House Committee Chairman on Information, Media, and ICT; Honorable Qozeem Olayanju on the matter.
Dapo Ibikunle, the chairman of the House of Assembly correspondents was allegedly assaulted by Hon. Babajide’s political supporters were on their way to a campaign rally, some online media reports over the weekend.
Mr. Ibikunle mentioned that one of the lawmaker’s political followers threatened his life at the scene of the incident while telling his version of the story in front of the House correspondents’ leadership.
On the contrary, the lawmaker denied the claim of a threat to life, claiming that there had only been a minor verbal altercation between Mr. Ibikunle and his supporters while they were traveling to a political rally on a campaign train.
While acknowledging that it was only a misunderstanding in communication during the verbal exchange, Hon. Babajide noted that he did not expect the matter to degenerate into a sort of media face-off considering the long-standing relationship between members of the house and House of Assembly correspondents.
Members of the House correspondents present at the meeting in their separate remarks stressed the importance of mutual understanding between members of the 9th assembly and journalists covering the House, especially during the already heightened political campaign season.
Hon. Olayanju while appealing to his colleague and Ibikunle said, the 9th assembly should continue to show the needed capacity and willpower to foster cordial relationships between them and journalists.
Also, he assured a continual synergy between the House and correspondents for improved relationships and adequate dissemination of information regarding the activities of the house. Thus, asking the aggrieved parties to embrace each other in the spirit of brotherliness.
The Speaker, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, who briefly hosted the duo and other members at the peace meeting expressed displeasure on how emotions were not properly handled while the misunderstanding lasted.
He, however, applauded both parties for finally resolving their differences maturely; stressing the importance of exhibiting a high level of maturity at all times when handling issues affecting other people. Leadership always places the burden of responsibility on anyone in a position of a leader. He added
The lawmaker, Hon. Gabriel Babajide is running for re-election to a second term of four years as a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly.
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