Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has called on the newly installed leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly to work together, remain accountable and prioritise the interests of the people.
The governor made the appeal on Monday when he received the new Speaker, Yekini Idiaye, who represents Akoko-Edo Constituency I, at the Government House in Benin City.
Okpebholo said lawmakers must remember that political positions are temporary and should therefore be approached with humility and responsibility.
He advised the new Assembly leadership to promote cooperation and open communication, while urging lawmakers to keep internal disagreements away from social media.
“We must put arrogance aside to serve our people better because today we are here and tomorrow we don’t know where we will be.
“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 urged Idiaye to provide inclusive leadership by giving every member a sense of belonging, warning that excluding lawmakers from decisions could create new divisions.
“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.
“The only way you can have effective leadership is for you to carry everybody along. I will urge the new speaker to live up to the positive comments made about him by his colleagues,” he said.
He added, “Everyone is saying good things about you. I want you to remain the way they have described you.”
Okpebholo also described teamwork and dialogue as important ingredients for a stable legislature.
“Teamwork is the bedrock of effective leadership. And for you to make progress, you need to believe in yourselves. When you have anything in mind, always voice it out either in private with the Speaker or in the open. Dialogue is always the key,” he said.
He expressed concern about possible tension in the House, saying he wanted the Assembly to maintain the relative peace it had enjoyed over the past two years.
“I want us to have a peaceful House. For about two years, there have never been crises in the House. And I pray that in another two years, there will be no crisis in the House,” he said.
As the next elections draw closer, the governor encouraged the lawmakers to strengthen their connection with their constituents and work towards electoral victories.
“I pray that you people will take charge of your constituencies. Elections are coming. We have to work hard to see that we record success,” he said.
He also urged lawmakers who may lose their seats at the next election not to be discouraged, assuring them that other opportunities could emerge.
“Those of you that are not coming back, don’t worry. We will work together. Sometimes, every disappointment is another appointment that can lead you to somewhere higher or greater,” Okpebholo said.
Idiaye, in his response, said the new leadership came to formally introduce itself and assure the governor that the Assembly would work with his administration.
“Your Excellency, we are here this afternoon to formally introduce the new leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly to you and to inform you that with this new leadership, we are ready to stabilise the House,” the Speaker said.
He pledged the Assembly’s cooperation with the governor, saying lawmakers were prepared to support initiatives aimed at moving Edo State forward.
“And to ensure that we give you the maximum support because we are all proud of you. You are doing well. The only way you can continue to do well is to have the support of the House. We are there for you. Whatever you want us to do to move Edo forward, we are ready for it,” he said.
The meeting was attended by senior government and party officials, including Secretary to the State Government Umar Musa Ikhilor, Chief of Staff Yakubu Musa and Edo APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe.
The meeting came shortly after Blessing Agbebaku resigned as Speaker amid moves by lawmakers to impeach him.
His media aide, Ivy Ebojele, confirmed the resignation but said further details would be released later.
PUNCH Online reported that 17 of the 24 lawmakers had signed an impeachment notice against Agbebaku on Sunday night, a development believed to have preceded his resignation.
