Thursday, November 7

Kogi Assembly Crises Ends as New Speaker Emerges

THE crisis that followed the October 16 removal of the speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly and all the principal officials of the House came to an end on Wednesday, with the willing resignation of Speaker Abdulahi Bello.

Replacing Bello is Momoh-Jimoh Lawal, who enjoyed the support of 22 of the 25 members in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

Presiding over the day’s activities was Deputy Speaker Emmanuel Omebije, who read a letter of Bello’s resignation to the members of the House.

The erstwhile speaker’s resignation is effective November 21.

Citing “personal reasons” for his resignation, former Speaker Bello thanked members of the House for the support accorded him during his 18-month stint as speaker.

In his acceptance speech, Lawal, solicited for the support and cooperation of the members and congratulated them for coming out of the crisis stronger.

“The event that led to my election today has so much threatened our unity. Sacrifices have been made and compromises reached to bring us to where we are today.

“They are worthwhile sacrifices and compromises. The unity of this House is key to the progress and development of the state and must be jealously protected.

“We must not allow the experience of the past couple of weeks to stagnate us and therefore rob us of a brighter future,’’ he said.

All principal officers in the House under former Speaker Bello’s leadership retained their seats, after a vote of confidence was passed on all of them.

However, Chief Saidu Akawu Salihu relinquished his position as Chief Whip to Alhaji Suleiman Babadoko.

Omebije then read out the names and signatures of the 22 members in the plenary session who adopted Lawal as the new Speaker of the House.

A motion to that effect was moved by the Majority Leader, Alhaji Yakubu Yunusa, and seconded by the Chief Whip, Alhaji Babadoko Suleiman.

 

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