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Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has charged the new leadership of the state House of Assembly to embrace humility, unity, transparency, and teamwork, urging lawmakers to put aside personal differences and focus on serving the people.
The governor gave the charge on Monday when he received the newly elected Speaker, Prince Yekini Oisayemoje Idaiye, who represents Akoko-Edo Constituency 1.
He said political office was temporary and should be handled with humility and a strong sense of responsibility.
“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”, Governor Okpebholo said and urged the new leadership to promote transparency, dialogue, and inclusiveness while advising lawmakers to resolve disagreements within the assembly rather than taking them to social media.
“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 added.
The governor advised that disagreements among lawmakers should be handled internally, adding that the emergence of a new leadership presented an opportunity for members to work together.
He urged Speaker Idaiye to understand the responsibility that comes with his office and ensure that all members of the Assembly are carried along.
“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”, Okpebholo further advised.
He warned that failure to involve members in the affairs of the House could create fresh divisions, saying
“The only way you can have an effective leadership is for you to carry everybody along.
“Everyone is saying good things about you. I want you to remain the way they have described you”, the governor said, urging the new Speaker to live up to the positive comments made about him by his colleagues.
Governor Okpebholo identified teamwork as essential to effective legislative leadership and encouraged lawmakers to raise their concerns through dialogue.
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“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.
“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 crises in the House”, he said.
With elections approaching, the governor urged the lawmakers to strengthen their presence in their constituencies and work towards electoral success.
“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 encouraged lawmakers who might not return to the Assembly after the elections to remain optimistic, assuring them of continued cooperation.
“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.
In his remarks, the new Speaker, Idaiye, said the new legislative leadership visited the governor to formally introduce itself and assure him of the Assembly’s support for 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.
“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 the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Yakubu Musa; Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, and members of the party’s State Working Committee.
