• Why I resigned, by ex-Speaker
From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
The new Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Mathew Kolawole, has described his emergence as a “unique privilege and watershed in the political annals of the state.”
He added that his ascension marked the beginning of another path to further consolidate on the progress so far made by House.
Coalhole emerged as the new Speaker, yesterday, at an emergency session, after series of meetings and horse-trading, following the dramatic resignation of Alhaji Umar Imam, to become the 12th Speaker in the state and the first person to be so elected from his constituency since the creation of the state 26 years ago.
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who represents Kabba Bunu constituency, Kolawole commended the ‘’untainted commitment and service’’ of his immediate predecessor and pledged his ‘’strong determination and resolve to rally this noble House for a common cause aimed at raising the bar of socio-political and economic development of our state.’’
Also elected were Bello Abdullahi Hassan (APC-Ajaokuta) and Victor Adewale Omofaiye (APC-Ijumu) as Majority Leader and Chief Whip of respectively.
Ahmed Mohammed (APC-Ankpa I) had nominated Kolawole following the “sudden” resignation of Imam to avert a vacuum. Abdulkareem Kekere of who represents Okehi state constituency seconded him.
Imam is believed to be a beneficiary of the crisis that engulfed the Assembly late 2015 when five lawmakers impeached the then speaker, Momoh Jimoh Lawal, who had 15 lawmakers in his support.
Meanwhile, the Kabba Development Union (KDU) has congratulated the new speaker and lauded the House for the smooth transition.
“While looking forward to a progressive tenure for the new speaker, we wish to acknowledge the efforts of the state government at balancing the political equation in the state, KDU said in a statement signed by its president, Emmanuel Ajibero.
The group made up of Owe people urged the new speaker to ensure a good and harmonious working relationship between the executive and the legislature in order to move the state forward.
Imam who spent one year, one week and one day in the saddle, in a letter to the House, said he resigned to avert plunging the state into further crises.
As speaker, he said he revamped the “integrity of this noble institution and redirected it on the path of honour and in line with the democratic principle of separation of Powers.’’
He, however, condemned Tuesday’s invasion of the House by thugs.
“What transpired last Tuesday during plenary, when thugs desecrated the sanctity of this hallowed chamber, was undemocratic, condemnable act of hooliganism, criminal act and attempted murder.
‘’This House should never have to experience a repeat of such barbaric acts. I still hope that the perpetrators will be brought to book,’’ he said.
During the invasion, the suspected thugs beat up a lawmaker and aborted plenary.