The Taraba State House of Assembly, has elected Josiah Sabo Kente, member representing Wukari 1 Constituency as the new Speaker following the death of Haruna Tsokwa.
Tsokwa, the former Speaker died Monday, November 4, 2013 in a Jalingo hospital over alleged heart related disease.
However, Kente who is serving his second term in the house hails from the southern zone of the state where the late speaker came from.
Emmanuel Dame representing Ardo-Kola moved the motion for nomination of Kente as new speaker while the member representing Bali 2 Constituency, Hamanadama Abdulahi seconded it. Abdulahi described Kente as a capable member who can take the house to higher levels.
Yuhana Adaki representing Usah State Constituency was endorsed by the House to replace Kente as the Deputy Majority Leader.
In his acceptance speech, Kente promised to use his new position to end the political crisis bedevilling the state since the return of Governor Danbaba Suntai from USA where he travelled for treatment following injuries he sustained during a plane clash.
He also promised to unite members of the House of Assembly.
“My priority will be to work assiduously towards ensuring that we close ranks and not allow the enemy to further divide us because, as the saying goes, united we stand, divided we fall.
‘’It is a learning period and the entire nation is keenly observing with interest what transpired here and how we eventually resolve it politically.
“My prayer is that the lessons from this saga will teach us not to pass through the same route again. I want to assure the people of Taraba State that we shall not let them down and the matter will soon be resolved amicably to the satisfaction of all interests,” he said.
Until his election, the new speaker was Government House correspondent for Taraba State-owned television station from 1991 to 1994. He also served as the state chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, just as he had earlier served as the deputy majority leader and chairman house committee finance and appropriation.
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