KANO, BORNO, NASARAWA, KADUNA, KWARA ASSEMBLIES ELECT PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

Eight days after this year's Democracy Day was inaugurated, more state assemblies elected their principal officers yesterday. In Kano, Abdullahi Yusuf Falgore emerged the new Speaker.

His election yesterday trailed the inauguration of the seventh Assembly by the Governor of the state, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Falgore, an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was unanimously elected by his colleagues in a ceremony that had in attendance top party chieftains and thousands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters.

Also elected was a one- time chairman of Rogo Local Government Area, Isyaku Ali Danja, as the Deputy Speaker. He represents Gezawa Constituency.

The 40- man House , however, deferred the appointments of other principal officers to a later date.

The Speaker, Falgore said he would run an open door policy that would respect all members of the House, irrespective of party affiliations.

The ceremony was nearly disrupted as youths set ablaze a few vehicles at the Assembly complex after they were denied access to the building by the security agents.

It took the Police half an hour to contain the situation that left scores injured.

In Borno, Goni Ali Modu was on Monday re-elected to lead the seventh Assembly.

Goni, who was unanimously re-elected by the 28-member House said he was humbled by the collective decision of his colleagues to return him to the seat which he occupied for eight years.

'I am humbled by your decision to re-elect me, though I'm not the best among you. I wish to promise you that I shall justify the confidence you repose in me. I will not disappoint you Inshal Allah,' he promised, even as he assured that he would be just to all members irrespective of party differences.

Goni was elected into the House in 2003 to represent Abadam constituency, North of Borno and was subsequently elected as the Speaker. He was returned in 2007 until last week when the sixth Assembly was dissolved.

Other elected leaders include Inusa Gamandi Danlami (Shani constituency), Deputy Speaker, while Idrissa Jidda (Ngala) was elected the majority leader. Also Baba Ali Modu (Mafa, ANPP), Bukar Gudusu (PDP, Jere) and Aimu Foni (Chibok, PDP) were elected Chief Whip, Minority Leader and Minority Whip respectively.

A total of 12 old members were re-elected.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa has inaugurated the fourth Assembly with the Speaker, Musa Ahmed Mohammed and Elisha Agwadu returning unopposed as Speaker and deputy respectively.

Mohammed was earlier nominated by the member representing Ummasha/Ugya constituency, who said he chose the speaker based on his track records of achievement in the house for the past four years as Speaker.

He said re-electing Musa Ahmed Mohammed as Speaker of the House would ensure continuity in the Assembly.

Also, the motion for the nomination of Deputy Speaker was moved by Baba Ibaku, Udege/ Loko Constituency and seconded by Anthony Obande, Doma South Constituency, where he described the deputy speaker as a dedicated servant of the House. The two leaders are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.

Meanwhile, political thugs suspected to be supporters of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) invaded the Assembly during the inauguration of the fourth Nasarawa State Assembly.

The thugs, who disrupted proceedings in the House said they invaded the Assembly in order to see their Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who they claimed was their own.

It took the intervention of Speaker Mohammed and the security before they left the state Assembly hall.

In Kaduna State, the seventh House of Assembly was inaugurated yesterday when Usman Gangara, a returning member emerged as speaker, with his Deputy, Dr. Mathew Dogara Mato, a new member.

Earlier in the day, the lawmakers had met in the House to dissolve the sixth Assembly.

Speaking during the valedictory session, the former Speaker, Hassan Jumare said out of 41 bills, the House passed 36, while amendments were also made on some unspecified number of bills such as that of Basic Education and stigmatization against HIV/AIDS victims.

The new Speaker, Gangara, however, congratulated the new members for their success at the polls, adding that he would ensure that all members were carried along while bills submitted to the House would be given speedy attention.

The Kwara State House of Assembly was yesterday inaugurated with election of Rasaq Atunwa a lawyer, who was the immediate past commissioner for finance pledging to defend the people through a collaborative relationship with the executive that will not compromise the House's integrity.

The House, at the inauguration read a letter of notification from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), signed by the chairman and the secretary respectively, notifying the House of list of suggested leadership of the House which was unanimously adopted.

The new Speaker, Atunwa was elected in a unanimous voice votes by members. Atunwa's election was proposed by Kamal Oyekunle (Oke-Ogun) and supported by Illyasu Ibrahim (Ipaye /Oloru).

Atunwa (Owode-Onirin), who said he was humbled by his election, pledged to give selfless service to the House and state and ensure that the collective integrity of the House did not suffer under him while their welfare would also be taken care of.

Other principal officers of the House include Professor Mohammed Gana (Deputy Speaker), Dr. Abraham Ashaoul (Majority Leader), Alhaji Fatai Salman (Deputy Majority Leader), Alhaji Illyasu Ibrahim (Chief Whip) ad Alhaja Sikirat Anako (Deputy Chief Whip). A letter from the PDP leadership in the state had indicated the selection of the principal officers. The letter was read by the Speaker.

The election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker was witnessed by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who later left the assembly hall before the new speaker conducted the swearing in of the new members of the House. The event was witnessed by a horde of PDP and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) supporters.

In Kogi State, four new lawmakers from Okun have kicked against the zoning of the speakership to the central senatorial district. They said the new zoning was capable of causing disunity among the major tribes in the state.

In a press statement  signed by  Oluyori Afolabi, (Ijumu) Folusho Daniel, (Mopa Muro), Henry Ojuola (Yagba East) and Adeyemi Abidemi of (Yagba west), copies of which were made available to Daily Sun, the statement said the backdoor changing of the zoning arrangement by a few clique in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without due consultations with other stakeholders was undemocratic.

The statement blamed some former principal officers for hurriedly amending Section 10 [1] of the standing rules of the House to pave way for this zoning.

It questioned the rationale behind the sudden change of the speakership from the western senatorial district, which had been occupying the position to the central senatorial district, which currently occupied the position of the deputy governor.

'The immediate past legislators did not consider this amendment necessary until few days to their departure from office, this untimely swift amendment is politically unreasonable , oppressive, biased and therefore unacceptable.

'While we  appreciate the right to make rules, such rules must not put the unity and peace of  the ethnic groups in the state in jeopardy, how can the position of the governor and deputy speaker go to the Igala ethnic group, the second position of deputy governor and the third position of the Speaker of the House go to the Ebiras, with the Okuns, the third largest ethnic group  in the state without any  principal positions? the statement queried.