New Edo Assembly Speaker pledges support for Okpebholo

The newly elected Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Yekini Idiaye, has pledged the legislature’s full cooperation with Governor Monday Okpebholo, saying the leadership change was necessary to support the state’s development.

Idiaye stated this in an interview after his swearing-in on Monday in Benin.

He said the Assembly had experienced several challenges under the former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, including allegations of corruption, poor leadership and frequent adjournments.

“Under the leadership of the former speaker, we have been passing through a lot of challenges.

“Corruption here and there. Every now and then it is adjournment, we resume tomorrow, adjournment for another 30 days, 20 days — and we were all not too happy with this leadership style,” he said.

Idiaye said a weak legislature could negatively affect the executive arm of government, stressing that lawmakers had a responsibility to ensure that nothing hindered the governor’s performance.

“Once the leadership is poor, it will drag the work of the governor backwards. So we decided to say no,” he said.

The new Speaker described Okpebholo as a performing governor and said the Assembly would work with him to move the state forward.

“I can assure all of you that we are going to do everything possible to support the governor. He is doing a lot for the people of Edo, so we have to cooperate with him to move the state forward,” Idiaye said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Idiaye was sworn in on Monday following the resignation and subsequent suspension of Agbebaku amid allegations relating to the inflation of prices of Lexus 570 vehicles and Hilux vans.

The Assembly also announced changes to its principal leadership, with Mr Sanny Ojezele, representing Esan South-East Constituency, emerging as Majority Leader.

Idiaye said the new leadership would focus on restoring stability and ensuring that the legislature effectively carried out its lawmaking and oversight responsibilities in support of the state’s development.