Ahead of the Conference of Speakers election which will witness the emergence of a national chairman, Southwest Assembly Speakers have expressed their resolve to join forces to ensure a successful outing.

Eromosele Ebhomele, media assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, disclosed this in a statement after the meeting which took place in Lagos on Monday.

The two contenders from the region for the chairmanship position are Ogun Assembly speaker, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Oluomo, and Oyo Assembly speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin.

According to Mr Obasa, the discussions at the meeting with the Southwest Speakers, which took place few days before the Abuja meeting of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, were aimed at enhancing the growth and progress of the zone.

Mr Obasa, after a closed-door session with the State Speakers, told journalists that, “We looked at the progress of the legislature in the Southwest. Let me remind you that during the last Assembly, we all adopted a single Business Rules and Standing Order, which we have reviewed at this meeting.

“We also discussed the coming election of the Conference of Speakers. We deliberated on that because we have to be there with one voice. We have two Speakers, Ogun and Oyo, running for the position. So we have to harmonise our position before we go for the election.

“We also discussed the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) as it relates to the economic progress and development of Southwest. I am happy to tell you we made tremendous progress in our discussion and we have concluded that we will meet again to continue our deliberation. But in all, we have discussed in the interest of the Southwest,” Obasa added.

Also speaking to newsmen, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye said, “We met to discuss the Southwest, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, the coming election, the security of our zone, and the need for cross-fertilisation of ideas among the legislatures in the Southwest.”

The Speakers had earlier in the day commended Lagos lawmakers for their support for democracy, true governance and the leadership of Mr Obasa.

Assembly Speakers present at the meeting with the Lagos speaker include Rt. Hon. Oluomo, Hon. Ogundoyin, Adeoye Aribasoye of Ekiti, Adewale Egbedun of Osun and Olamide Oladiji of Ondo.