Davidson Ogbebor

Benin City-Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged the newly elected leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly to promote unity, transparency, inclusiveness and teamwork in the discharge of their legislative responsibilities.

The governor gave the charge when he received the new Speaker of the Assembly, Prince Yekini Oisayemoje Idaiye, who represents Akoko-Edo Constituency I, alongside members of the new leadership.

Okpebholo urged the lawmakers to put aside personal differences and focus on their responsibility to the people, stressing that political office was temporary and should therefore be exercised 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,” the governor said.

He urged the new leadership to promote transparency, dialogue and inclusiveness, advising lawmakers to resolve disagreements within the Assembly rather than taking their differences 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 said.

The governor said the emergence of the new leadership presented an opportunity for members of the Assembly to work together and strengthen the stability of the legislature.

Addressing the new Speaker, Okpebholo said leadership of the Assembly required more than occupying an office, stressing the need to carry all lawmakers along in the affairs of the House.

“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,” he said.

He warned that failure to involve all members in the affairs of the House could create fresh divisions, adding that inclusiveness remained essential to effective legislative leadership.

“The only way you can have an effective leadership is for you to carry everybody along,” Okpebholo said.

The governor also urged Idaiye to maintain the qualities his colleagues had attributed to him during his emergence as Speaker.

“Everyone is saying good things about you. I want you to remain the way they have described you,” he said.

Okpebholo identified teamwork and dialogue as key ingredients for effective leadership, urging lawmakers to freely express their concerns and resolve disagreements constructively.

“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,” he said.

The governor expressed his desire to see the Assembly remain peaceful, noting that the House had operated without a major crisis for about two years.

“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, Okpebholo also urged the lawmakers to strengthen their engagement with their constituents 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 further encouraged lawmakers who might not return to the Assembly after the elections not to be discouraged, 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,” the governor said.

Speaker Assures Governor of Assembly’s Support

In his remarks, Speaker Idaiye said the new leadership visited the governor to formally introduce itself and assure him of the Assembly’s commitment to supporting 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,” Idaiye said.

The Speaker assured the governor that the Assembly would provide the necessary legislative support to advance the development of Edo State.

“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; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Yakubu Musa; Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe; and members of the party’s State Working Committee.