The governor of Cross River State, Sen. (Prince) Bassey Otu, has sent a congratulatory message to the new Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, (CRSHA), Hon. Elvert Ayambem and his deputy, Hon Sylvester Agabi, on their elections.
Ayambem, who represents Ikom 2 State Constituency, was elected speaker on Tuesday, June 13 in the 25-member House, while elected as deputy speaker is Sylvester Agabi of Obudu State Constituency.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche quoted the governor to have indicated that the peaceful and transparent manner of the elections of the principal officers of the state assembly is a testimony that democracy has taken firm roots in the country and state.
Otu charged the lawmakers to see their elections as a call to duty and they should use the opportunity to deepen democratic governance in the state, stressing that people have high hopes to see a government that works.
“Your emergency and speaker and deputy speaker signifies a milestone in our democratic march since the return of democracy in 1999.
“As a former lawmaker, I must remind you that you have a duty to make laws that can prosper our state, entrench democratic governance, and bring our peoples closer together.
“You have enormous authority in your hands and I enjoin you to exercise this power with discretion and for the overall benefit of our state,”
He expressed the hope that the lawmakers will hit the ground running and carry out their oversight with utmost responsibility.
While congratulating the lawmakers, he promised that the executive will work closely with the legislature to ensure that only laws that impact meaningfully on the state are considered and passed.
“As a government that is people-centred as evidenced in our People First Agenda, we will support the Assembly to pass only laws that will engender our progress, growth, development and cohesion as a people and to put our state as a destination for business and tourism. Also, I charge you to be creative in making laws that will shore up our revenue base,” the governor said.