Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship standard bearer in the September 19 poll, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, have lauded the new Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Edoror on his emergence.
While Agba descibed Edoror’s emergence as signposting the end to a divided House of Assembly, Ize-Iyamu said it marked the end of a lopsided democracy.
Agba’s congratulatory letter to Edoror reads: “I wish to congratulate you on your very well-deserved election as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.
“Your election comes at a time our dear State is going through a leadership crisis requiring men of character, courage and love for the people to confront.
“As an avowed unifier with a pedigree for responsible leadership, it is instructive that you are now the speaker of a unified parliament of the people of Edo State with the mandate to ensure astute oversight responsibilities and even development of the component parts of the state.
“As you settle down to perform the duties of your new position, be assured of my support as you pilot the ship of the legislature.”
On his part, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, described Edoror emergence as the end of a deformed and lopsided democracy.
In a congratulatory message signed by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the APC State Media Campaign Council, Ize-Iyamu said the emergence of Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror as Speaker was a victory for Edo State and all constituencies previously denied representation.
He said: “I am happy to receive the news of the emergence of Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror as the Speaker of the Edo State House Assembly.
“His emergence marks an end to a lopsided and deformed democracy, ushering in a new and reformed era of inclusive governance and non-discriminatory politics.
“Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror’s emergence is also a victory for the people of Edo State, for the constituencies previously sidelined, and for the House-members’ elect who had been unfairly denied their elective right to represent their constituencies in government.
“Personally, as someone who has known Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror for a long time, I am convinced by the great personality he is; I am sure that this joy sweeping across Edo as the shackles of tyranny breaks today, will not be temporary.
“As a true democrat and a progressive, and as someone who came to leadership through and after a tomentous and elongated period of political persecution, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror knows the sour taste of injustice and as such would not let any one more Edo person experience such bitter tang.
“Backed by an overwhelming majority, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror is demonstrably the people’s choice for the position. And it is in line with common sense that for an individual to sway such massive support, he must have demonstrated great qualities admired and necessary for leadership and development, and as such is being trusted with the enormous task of piloting the House from its darkest moments as cast into by the reprehensible divide-and-rule politics of the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki.”
“I send my congratulations to Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror while at the same time encouraging him to set a good example with the opportunity of leadership God has given to him today.”
Hon. Edoror of Esan Central constituency emerged Speaker on Thursday in an emergency plenary session attended by 17 elected members of the House of Assembly, while Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje of Akoko-Edo Constituency II was elected as Deputy Speaker.
The emergency plenary session impeached Hon. Frank Okiye and Roland Asoro as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively and nullified all previous actions taken by the 7th Assembly.
