Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Monday inaugurated members the 9th Benue State House of Assembly.
Ortom, performed the inauguration at the Assembly chambers after the 8th Assembly was dissolved earlier in the day.
He congratulated the members and prayed God to grant them the grace not to fail Him (God) and the Benue people on their mandates as Governor and Assembly members.
“If I’m not to fail, you should be my anchor in the development trajectory of the state,” he said.
Ortom, promised he will not interfere with the work of the assembly, but that they will work as partners in the service of the state.
He again thanked the 8th Assembly for the cordial relationship, which existed between them saying, “I am looking forward to a more robust relationship with the 9th Assembly for the development of the state.
He charged them to come up with laws, policies and workable strategies that can turn all the potentials in the state to add value to the people by creating jobs, wealth and other opportunities.
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He further urged them to eschew ethnic, sectional and political sentiments to enable them realize set goals saying, “those in the other political parties are not your enemies, the other ethnic groups are not your problem, our problem is the poverty, disease and insecurity that is staring us in the face and we must stand together and fight for the good of all Benue people.”
Meanwhile, the Benue State House of Assembly has returned the former speaker, Titus Uba of Kyan state constituency, Vandeikya LGA, as Speaker of the House for the 9th Assembly.
The speaker was returned unopposed with a unanimous voice vote, while Christopher Adaji from Ohimini state constituency was election unopposed as the deputy speaker.
Before he assumed office after the election, the Speaker took three separate oaths including oath of office of the Speaker, oath of allegiance and oath of membership of the House of Assembly.
Speaking after their inauguration, the speaker, thanked his constituents, the governor, the Benue people and his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him and the responsibility laid on him to lead the House for the second time.
He assured that the assembly will work hard to deliver good legislation and quality leadership to the Benue people.
“We are resuming office at a time when the state is challenged with issues of kidnapping, killings among others. We will play our part and synergize with the executive to build a Benue of our dream”, Uba said.