Igbuya emerges Delta speaker, Ubosi for Enugu, Edoror leads Edo House

• Police harass journalists at inauguration

REPRESENTATIVE of Sapele Constituency, Monday Igbuya, has emerged Speaker of the Sixth Delta State House of Assembly during the election that followed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s proclamation of the session in Asaba yesterday.

The Guardian learnt that his election was more of a coronation as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), since Okowa (Delta North) emerged governorship candidate, had penciled down the former majority leader from Delta Central for the top job.

Also, the daughter of former governor of the state, James Ibori, Ms. Erhitake Ibori, was among the 28 lawmakers sworn in yesterday. Clerk of the House, Mrs. Lyna Ocholor, who read the governor’s proclamation letter, also immediately presided at the elections and swearing-in of the speaker and his deputy, Mr. Friday Ossai Osanebi.

In his acceptance speech, Igbuya said his experience over the years would be handy in the onerous task of piloting the affairs of the legislature. He called for the maximum support of all stakeholders, assuring that indigenes would remain first as the House diligently pursues its constitutional duties.

In Enugu State, Edward Uchenna Ubosi (Enugu East) yesterday became the new Speaker of the House of Assembly, while Dr. Donatus Uzogbado (Oji River) was also elected his deputy. Ubosi and Uzogbado were unanimously elected.

Proclaiming the session yesterday, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, represented by the Clerk of the House, Christopher Chukwura, charged the lawmakers to put their differences behind and work for the development of the state.

Ugwuanyi described the crisis that rocked the state assembly recently as part of the challenges of development and urged the lawmakers to always consider the overall interest of the state in the discharge of their functions.

On his part, the new speaker promised to run an open door policy to move the state forward, while calling for cooperation from members, advice and prayers from the public to enable his administration succeed.

Similarly, Victor Edoror (Esan Central) was elected Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly and Bright Osayande (Ovia ‎North East Constituency I) his deputy.

The others – Folly Ogedengbe (Majority Leader), Elizabeth Ativie (Deputy Majority Leader), Sunday Aghedo (Chief Whip) and Kabiru Adjoto (Deputy Chief Whip) – were appointed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) via a letter from the Secretary, Osaro Idah.

However, three different letters were said to have emanated from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the position of minority leader.

One of the letters, which was read by Edoror, accused the PDP leadership of mismanaging campaign funds during the last general election and passed a vote of no confidence on it.

Another was said to have been written by the state chairman, Dan Orbih, all three nominating different persons for the same post. Edoror advised the PDP to put its house in order and put one name forward. He further promised to lead a united house and work with the executive and judiciary for enhanced development of the state.

Meanwhile, no fewer than six journalists, including those with The Guardian, Punch, Nation, Daily Independent, photo journalists with the Nigerian Observer, Vanguard and several others were harassed by policemen as the Edo State House of Assembly was being inaugurated yesterday.

The Guardian’s Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu was detained ‎in the security waiting room while policemen and men of the Department of State Security (DSS) rained derogatory statements on him and the journalism profession.

Trouble started when journalists were denied entry into the venue for over an hour even after identifying themselves, yet several other persons, including political aides and hangers-on were allowed into the chamber.

Aliu approached the two policemen at the gate to know the reason for the discrimination but the police wanted ‎to use his boot on him instead and in the process, broke the glass door. They suddenly changed the story that the journalist broke the door and must be detained.

When the journalists were eventually let in, the House was concluding the election of the new speaker, Edoror, and his deputy, Osayande.