GOV. Monday Okpebholo of Edo has urged the new Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr Yekini Idaiye, to promote unity, transparency and teamwork.
Okpebholo made the call on Monday when he received Idaiye and 13 other lawmakers at the Government House in Benin, urging them to set aside personal differences and serve Edo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Idaiye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency 1, emerged as the new speaker, following the resignation of the former speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, over allegations of inflating prices of Lexus 570 Jeeps and Hilux vehicles bought for the assembly.
The governor said political office is temporary and should therefore, be handled with humility, responsibility and a strong commitment to serving the people effectively.
”We must put arrogance aside to serve our people better because today,cwe are here and tomorrow we don’t know where we will be, ” the governor said.
Okpebholo also urged the new leadership to promote transparency, dialogue and inclusiveness, while advising lawmakers to resolve disagreements within the assembly rather than taking them to social media.
“It’s a new leadership. I don’t know what happened, whatever must have happened in the house is for the house, and it remains there.
“I was also a parliamentarian, and I know that we respect one another,” he said.
The governor emphasised the importance of mutual respect among lawmakers in the discharge of their duties.
He said disagreements should be handled internally, adding that the emergence of a new leadership provided an opportunity for members to work together and strengthen the assembly.
Okpebholo further urged Idaiye to understand the responsibility attached to his office and ensure that every member of the assembly was carried along in legislative affairs.
“It is not just to be a leader but a responsible leader. You are not just assuming a new office, to be just an ordinary speaker.
“You should know that you are now carrying the shoulders of many people and you have to be transparent with your colleagues, you have to carry everybody along,” he said.
The governor warned that failure to involve members in the affairs of the house could create fresh divisions, urging the leadership to build consensus through dialogue and inclusiveness.
Okpebholo identified teamwork as essential to effective legislative leadership and encouraged lawmakers to raise concerns constructively, while working together to maintain peace within the assembly.
He said he wanted the assembly to remain peaceful, noting that the house had operated without a major crisis for about two years under the existing arrangement.
The governor also encouraged lawmakers, who might not return after the elections to remain optimistic, assuring them that his administration would continue cooperating with them.
Idaiye said the new legislative leadership visited the governor to formally introduce itself and assure him of the assembly’s support for his administration.
He assured the governor that the assembly would provide the support needed to advance the state through effective legislation and constructive partnership with the executive. (NAN)
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Tags: Edo Governor Promote Unity
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