Bayelsa state Governor Henry Seriake Dickson on Monday congratulated the speaker of the state house of Assembly Friday Kombowei Benson for the way he led the fifth assembly, describing it as the most eventful, fruitful and impact-full legislative session.
Speaking at the hallowed chamber of the state house of Assembly during the dissolution of the fifth assembly the, the governor thanked him for his dedication and sacrifices during his time as the speaker.
He thanked the fifth Assembly for working in collaboration with the restoration government maintaining that the house has made history.
Hear him, ” I came here to make the dissolution of the this 5th paliamentary session. You have made history of a new Bayelsa. Thank you for giving us maximum support.
“Our state has seen massive infrastructural development both in the education sector and other areas. We are talking about the airport and investments on education we couldn’t have done it without the support of this house.This house has been with us for us to pull our people from under-development and this house has supported me in the last seven years.
“The house has been with us so that we have the best medical facilities and good schools that we can afford. We have the best Heath insurance scheme and over 50,000 people are beneficiaries of that scheme.
Working with you and your colleagues in the last seven years we can now say that the joy of building the state has been accomplished and Bayelsa indeed has changed.
“That is why this new Bayelsa has worked in collaboration not with confrontational with the house. This house is the best and the most productive house in the whole of the federation.
“Today is the saddest day for me because a number of you will be leaving and will not be in the sixth assembly. Our house is full of gratitude because of how you served our people.
“The sixth Assembly has a very big shoe to wear. The shoe that the 5th assembly has left behind. A very large shoe which will be a challenge to the incoming leadership. I have no doubt that the sixth assembly will have enough experienced hands to pilot the affairs of the sixth Assembly
Responding, the former speaker of the house Friday Kombowei said they passed 92 executive bills and 13 private bills making it 105 bills in operation.
“People were leaving this town before your coming on board but all those are history now. “Criticism is one of the tools of governance and you have used it positively because you always use them to achieve results.
Also speaking, Robert Enogha, who represented Ogbia Constituency 1 during his time, said the fifth assembly enjoyed and the 6th assembly will enjoy more because over 60% will be coming back..
He thanked the governor for not disrupting the fifth assembly unlike other governors do so.
Abraham Ngobere, former deputy speaker said the declaration of state of emergency on education by his excellency has helped the educational sector adding that there is serious difference between when he took over and now.
