By Patrick Ochei
The member representing Aniocha North Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Emeka Emmanuel Nwaobi has emerged the Majority Leader of the State Assembly through the nomination of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
At the resumption of plenary on Tuesday 27th June, 2023, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor read a letter from the leadership of the PDP, nominating Hon. Nwaobi as the Majority Leader of the House.
The Speaker congratulated him, and charged him to defend the interest of the House at all times as the Leader of the majority party and Spokesman of the House, as well as the intermediary between the Legislature and the Executive in terms of handling all Executive Bills on transmission to the Legislature.
“Let me commend you for your hardwork and loyalty to our great Party, as well as your dexterity for diligent Legislative duty. As a Ranking member, the other members have a lot to learn from you as the Leader of the House.
“Once again, I congratulate you as well as others so nominated as principal officers of the House. We expect you to hold the House together by your experience and knowledge in Legislative matters”, Guwor said.
In his acceptance speech, Hon. Nwaobi appreciated the PDP for finding him worthy to occupy such an exalted position of the Majority Leader of the House.
He promised never to let them down, while asking God for the wisdom and Knowledge to function effectively in the capacity of his new office.
Equally, Nwaobi appreciated the good people of Aniocha North State Constituency, who voted him to represent them a third time in the House, adding that the appreciation for the new office must of necessity and profoundly go to them.
Later on in his office where he addressed the House Press Corps, the Majority Leader pledged to function creditably in his capacity as Majority Leader.
In response to questions posed to him, he said, “I thank profoundly my constituents for their unalloyed support to my political journey of representing them in the House. I want to assure them that by God’s Grace, we shall all have testimonies to share for what the Lord has done.
“It is my prayer that God grants me the wisdom to perform the functions of my office effectively and efficiently, with a view to doing the needful in terms of democratic good to a vast majority of our people.
“I knew that the position of the Majority Leader was going to come to Delta North, but I never envisaged my nomination before now. In fact, when some persons were calling me and referring to me as Majority Leader, I used to decline answering it. This is because that responsibility lies with the party to choose who becomes a principal officer of the House. And that is why I most respectfully appreciate the leadership of the PDP for this honour done me.
“As rightly mentioned by the Speaker, one of my core duties is to represent the party and the Governor as a Spokesperson. These functions are sacrosanct to me as the Leader of the House, to ensure cohesion and bring adequate representation to bear.
“Let me on this note, by my unalloyed loyalty, commend and appreciate His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for believing in me and finding me worthy to occupy the office of the Majority Leader of the State Assembly. I owe him my regard any time and any day as my most dependable principal in whom I am well pleased. We shall all support His Excellency to give more to Deltans in terms of good governance anchored on sustainable development.
“Obviously, I see the 8th Assembly retaining the position of the Most Vibrant House in the country. We were one of the Most Vibrant Houses in Nigeria during the 7th Assembly, we will retain and surpass that feat in the 8th Assembly.
“As regards projects delivery and oversight, we will engage in quality oversight functions. You remember that Asaba Airport is functioning today because of quality oversight function that we brought to bear during the 6th Assembly. We will continue in that stead by doing more in the interest of Deltans”, Nwaobi posited.
