Conference of speakers elects Obasa as chairman

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has elected Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos house of assembly, as its new chairman.

The conference elected new executives at its 2018 second quarter conference held between August 3 and August 5, in Ikeja, Lagos.

Obasa takes over from Isamaila Kamba, his Kebbi state counterpart.

Reading the communiqué at the end of the conference, Ahmed Guni, chairman, electoral committee and communiqué drafting committee, said the conference deliberated on a number of national issues and conducted elections.

“Among other things, the conference reviewed and adopted the report of its special committee set up to facilitate an efficient and effective implementation of the financial autonomy law for the state legislatures and the judiciary,” Guni said.

“The conference also deliberated on a wide range of topical national issues. The conference equally elected a new set of national executives that will run the affairs of the conference.

“At the end of the elections, Rt-Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly emerged the new conference chairman.

“The office of the Deputy Chairman went to the Speaker of the Taraba House of Assembly Rt-Hon. Peter Abeldiah while the Treasurer went to the Speaker of Delta State, Rt.-Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

“The Financial Secretary was clinched by the Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, Prince Kolawole Matthew.”

In his acceptance speech,  Obasa urged all state legislators to come together and work for the protection of the sanctity of the parliament.

He said: “This mandate is a sacred one and I intend to do everything within my power to protect its sanctity.

“It is a mandate which brings about a burden, the burden to serve, not only my colleagues but the entire people of Nigeria who have honoured us with their votes at our respective constituencies to promote and protect their interest and welfares.

“I assure you that we will not keep quiet, fold our hands and watch our rights being trampled upon. We will be gentle but firm in our demand for our rights, resolute but not deliberately antagonistic.

“The parliament is the last option for democracy and it is our duty to protect it for the survival of democratic values and ideals.”