Abdulraheem Adebayo Adeleke Lawal is the new Deputy Governor of Oyo State. He replaces Rauf Olaniyan, who was impeached by the state House of Assembly earlier on Monday.
Lawal, who hails from Kishi in the Oke-Ogun area of the state, has two Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Law from the University of Ibadan.
Until his new position, Lawal was the Chairman of the state’s Housing Corporation. He had also served the state as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
He contested for the Oyo North senatorial seat on three occasions but lost all three times.
Governor Seyi Makinde had sent Lawal’s name to the state parliament following Olaniyan’s removal.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the House had gone on a short recess shortly after Olaniyan’s impeachment.
The lawmakers later reconvened at about 12.15 pm to consider the appointment of the new Deputy Governor.
While reading the letter from the Executive, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin said it was in response to an earlier letter sent by the lawmaker to the Governor dated 18 July, informing him of Olaniyan’s impeachment.
Defending Lawal’s nomination, the House Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin said that it should be favourably considered, approved and adopt in view of the nominee’s antecedents in contributing to the progress of the state.
Seconding the motion, Kazeem Olayanju, representing Irepo/Olorunsogo State Constituency, said that the House should confirm Lawal as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State.
The Speaker put the nomination to a voice vote, which went the ways of the “ayes”.