By Uduak Akai
UYO
The member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Mr Otobong Bob, and his counterpart for of Eket State Constituency, Dr Nsidibe Akata, have emerged House leader and deputy House leader of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA), respectively.
Their appointments were officially announced by the speaker, Elder Udeme Otong, during Thursday plenary at the Assembly Complex, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.
Bob, a lawyer, who until his appointment was the deputy House leader, now takes over as House leader replacing Elder Sunday Johnny, member representing Onna State Constituency, who ceased to hold the leadership position following the recent political realignment within the legislature.
The leadership changes in the State House of Assembly was as a result of a major political shift that saw 24 out of the 26 members of the AKHA, including the speaker, defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), making it the majority party in the Assembly.
Johnny of Onna State Constituency and Mr Uduakobong Ekpo-Ufot of Etinan State Constituency, are the only members still in the PDP.
In his acceptance speech, the new House leader, Bob, thanked God first for the opportunity to serve as the member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency and former deputy House leader now the House leader of the 8th Assembly.
He appreciated Governor Umo Eno, the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, the speaker, leadership and members of the 8th Assembly for the confidence reposed on them to serve as House leader and deputy House leader and pledged to reciprocate the gesture by working for the collective interest of members, Akwa Ibom government and the entire people of the State.
The lawmaker also thanked the leadership of the APC in Akwa Ibom and at the caucus level for accepting their nominations into the various offices and particularly himself, as majority leader of the Assembly, assuring that as a former deputy House leader for two years and member of the Assembly for six years, he has what is required to function in such a position.
“I have the experience because I was the former House leader, so taking over this particular position is one that I am confident that I will be able to pilot the affairs of the Assembly and government business creditably well.
“I Look forward to ensuring that we continue to have a good and harmonious relationship with the executive, between the governor and members of the Assembly which by virtue of this appointment I am playing dual roles now because as a representative, I already have the responsibility of ensuring that there exists a good relationship with the Assembly and secondly, as a leader I will also ensure that there is a cordial relationship with the Assembly and the Assembly will also have a cordial relationship with me because it is a symbiotic relationship and not a relationship that at all should be parasitic for the benefit of Akwa Ibom people”, he noted.
According to the House leader, “Our priority is Akwa Ibom people whom we were elected to serve, elected to come in as members of the Assembly, not to be members of leadership. So our responsibility I will so say, is loyalty to Akwa Ibom people whom we will continue to serve by protecting their interest and ensuring that we continue to fashion out good laws and perform our responsibilities, as lawmakers, to benefit them”.
The Nsit Ubium lawmaker thanked his constituents for the mandate given him first to represent them in the Assembly which has culminated to other responsibilities, adding that whatever height he has attained today is borne out of this mandate they gave him.
He explained that his new office will not have any interference with his cardinal responsibility of giving his constituency effective representation, pledging that he would continue to represent them to the best of his ability till the expiration of his mandate in 2027.
Bob is also the House Committee chairman on Works and Transport, while Akata chairs the Economic Development Committee.
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