Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has charged members of the newly inaugurated State House of Assembly to support the policies and programmes of the state government in order to move the state forward.
Governor Bello stated this in government house Lokoja when the members of the 8th Assembly paid him a courtesy visit shortly after their inauguration on Tuesday.
He said that the 7th Assembly whose tenure in office as legislature expired on Monday had a robust relationship with executive and judicial arms of government , stressing the need for the current Assembly members to toe the line of mutual relationship and understanding with other arms of government for the purpose of developing the state.
While reiterating that his administration does not discriminate, the governor said the appointment of the principal officers of the Assembly was done without interference or imposition of any member as principal officers.
He cautioned them against emulating some wrong doings in other state houses of Assembly in the country, warning that unruly behaviour will not be condoned in Kogi House of Assembly.
The Governor reminded them to bear in mind that it may not be rosy all the time as a result of the current economic situation, but assured them that their benefits and entitlement would be given to them as at when due.
He however advised them that the mandate given to each and every one of them by electorate is a position of trust and sacrifice, and urged them to serve their people and the state diligently.
He also admonished the lawmakers to go closer to their constituents and share in their grieves and happiness, noting that such act is the only way they can represent the people at the grassroots.
Governor Bello who promised that the Executive arm of government will not interfere in the activities of the legislatures, urged them to display high level of royalty to the government and the state.
He cautioned the lawmakers against gossip , hearsay capable of derailing them and urged them to respect the supremacy of the political parties that provided the platform for them to be elected as lawmakers.
While charging the Assembly members to adopt the channel of communication that existed between the three arms of government , Governor Bello told them that their characters and behaviors will determine whether they will be closer to the system or not and warned them against some people who may wish to mislead them .
Speaking on the forthcoming governorship election in the state , the governor said APC must win all the 21 local government areas of the state and urged them to redouble their effort in mobilizing votes for the party .
According to him, the system is larger than individual and charged them to go back to their various constituencies to campaign for the victory of APC , stressing that Kogi state can not afford to be in the opposition.
He charged the members to cooperate with Speaker to enable him preside over the affairs of the Assembly.
