The candidate of the Alliance for Democracy AD, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, a lawyer and son of former Military Governor of the defunct Western Nigeria, General Adeyinka Adebayo won the January 9, 1999 Governorship Election by polling over 300 thousand votes to defeat his People's Democratic Party PDP opponent who scored over 112 thousand votes.
He took over the baton of leadership from Navy Captain Musibau Atanda Yusuf on May 29, 1999 at a colourful Hand Over ceremony at the Kayode Oluyemi Stadium in the state capital.
That ended military rule in Nigeria as the transfer of power took place simultaneously in all States of the federation as well as the Eagle Square in the FCT, Abuja where former Military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo took oath of office as a democratically elected President of Nigeria.
Speaking at his inauguration, Governor Niyi Adebayo made a proclamation for the inauguration of the first Ekiti State House of Assembly on June 6, 1999 birthing full democracy in the Land of Honour and Fountain of Knowledge.
Also at the ceremony, the Deputy Governor, Chief Paul Alabi suffered heat exhaustion at the crowded stadium and was rushed out for medical attention. Later in the evening on the inauguration day, at a gala night on the Government House grounds, the father of the new Governor, General Adebayo, making a speech at the ceremony, removed his cap and bowed to his son, the Governor.
When I returned to my station to file my report on the inauguration ceremony at the stadium, my deployment memo to the Desk was handed over to me and my colleague, Mr Tunji Saliu also received a memo to take over from me as the new Government House reporter.
I resumed at the 'Dungeon', that's what the Desk is sometimes referred to at the BSES and if you know why you know! My stay at the Desk was brief as part of various teams and shifts preparing news bulletins under different editors where Super Editor I.D, Mr Ìdòwú Oguntuashe polished my writing skill and upgraded me to a news commentary writer.
On August 8, 1999, I was again posted out, this time to replace Mr Laleye Lashore at the Ekiti State House of Assembly as the new Parliamentary Correspondent of the BSES. My theatre of operation changed from the 'dungeon' to the hallowed chamber, the hot bed of politics when Right Honourable Kola Adefemi ruled with gavel and deputed by Right Honourable Oladapo Karounwi. It was a 26 - seat all male assembly, dominated by the Alliance for Democracy AD with 22 seats, PDP 3 seats and APP 1 seat.
My House of Assembly posting added presentation to my reportorial duties as I began a daily radio and television live programme tagged," From The Assembly. This is like a verbatim reportage of order of proceedings at the plenary. The programme ran for about four years non- stop Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, the House didn't sit as the lawmakers were mandated to return to their respective constituencies.
The programme put some legislators on their toes particularly some of them who might be referred to as bench warmers. This group often approached me to put words in their months even when they did not make any contribution on the floor. Trust me, I didn't bulge even at the dangling of carrot.
Reporting from the House, taught me what is known by the saying, 24 hours is a long time in politics because if the members met at parliamentary in the morning and met again later somewhere else but a member who did not attend the two meetings who relied on the earlier decision to make contributions on the floor of the house the following day, would be on his own.
From the Assembly as a programme never failed because even when the House was on recess, I still hosted the programme either going over the bills and motions passed by the House or explaining legislative literature and parliamentary jargons.