From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Leadership crisis rocking Kogi State House of Assembly since November 2015 was yesterday laid to rest with the resignation of Speaker Momoh-Jimoh Lawal.
Speaker of the G5 factional group, Imam Umar, was elected to succeed him.
The 25-House-member has 15 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 10 All Progressives Congress (APC) members.
It was gathered that Lawal’s resignation was a fallout of agreement reached to bring lasting peace to the crisis-ridden house.
The letter of resignation was read on the floor of the house at plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Aliyu Akuh.
Lawal had in the letter dated July 26 said his resignation was in the interest of the state, adding that though he would have loved to continue to demand entrenchment of democratic values, interest of the state was more paramount.
“We are all aware of the needless pains, the leadership crisis that engulfed this assembly in the past few months, caused our constituents and retarded the development of our beloved state.
‘’Today, my resignation as speaker of this house was a difficult decision but I believe it is the right thing to do.
“To the judiciary, I doff my hat for believing in the tenets of democratic values and to my constituents, I share your frustration.”
It was learnt that the Majority Leader, Matthew Kolawole, moved the adoption of the letter and was seconded by the Minority Leader, Bello Abdullahi.
With the adoption of the resignation letter through voice affirmation by members at plenary, Akuh, called for nomination of names for his replacement.
Kolawole, again, nominated Imam as speaker and Abdulkareem Kekere as chief whip.
Following overwhelming voice votes, members adopted Imam as speaker and was immediately inaugurated after administration of the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Seidu Tseja.
In his acceptance speech, the new speaker thanked God for his intervention in the crisis that rocked the assembly for over eight months.