By: Admin
Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday, re-elected Rt. Hon Ikuiyi-Owaji Ibani as speaker of the 9th Assembly
Ibani who represents Andoni State constituency and served as the speaker of the 8th assembly would be spending 16 years as a lawmaker by the end of the 9th Assembly in May 2023
His election as speaker followed a nomination by Hon Christian Ahiakwo who represents Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Constituency 1 during plenary yesterday
This was sequel to the proclamation of then 9th Assembly the State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
When the clerk of the house Stanford Oba who conducted the election called for vote, all 31 members present voted in favor of Ibani who was the only candidate for the election.
The Lawmakers also elected the member representing Ahoada East Constituency 2, Hon Edison Ehie as deputy speaker,
In his inaugural speech, Ibani who said he had no thoughts of being elected a speaker assured that he would collaborate with other lawmakers and run a participatory government
“the office is not my personal estate, it belongs to the people of Rivers State, therefore whatever I am going to do as the speaker of the 9th assembly would be a collaborative effort, the kind of leadershipI would want us to expect in the 9th assembly is a collaborative leadership, i do not know it all therefore I need the knowledge of other 31 members for us to do it on behalf of our people”
On his part newly elected deputy speaker of the state assembly Rt Hon Edison Ehie thanked the Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike for finding him worthy and his colleagues for voting him and assured that he would work in synergy with them for the purposes of making goods laws for the state
In the same vein lawmakers have continued to express confidence in the leadership of the speaker and the deputy speaker
Lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency Abiye Pepple and that of Emohua Sam Ogeh while speaking on the sidelines of yesterday’s election described both officers as being experienced with capacity to lead the house
Earlier while inaugurating the 9th assembly Rivers state Gov Nyesom Wike assured not to interfere with their activities urging them to make laws that would benefit citizens of the state
The assembly has been adjourned to Thursday 6th June
