DELTA STATE SPEAKER CHIEF IGBUYA - THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

“We must be willing to commit ourselves to the new order,
an era of love for all, where the good of all takes precedence over the gain of one."
                                                          ~ His Excellency Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa
                                                                 Executive Governor of Delta State

History was made on Monday June 8, 2015 as Delta State kicked off the 6th Assembly with the election of a veteran Law Maker Hon. Chief Monday Ovwigho Igbuya as Speaker of the House. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} in pursuit of the Principles of Equity, Justice and Fairness had zoned the Speaker ship to Delta Central as the Governor is from the North and his Deputy from the South. Among the contenders for the seat Chief Igbuya stood out and it was therefore not surprising that he emerged the Speaker.

The immediate past Majority Leader of the House is in the House for the Third Session as he started representing Sapele Local Government from the Fourth Assembly. Hon. Chief Monday Igbuya was also a former Sapele Local Government Area Chairman whose rise to the top politically is one of those moving Grass to Grace stories. But he is heading the State Assembly at a most trying period.

DWINDLING REVENUES:
Delta State like most in the Country is going through some sort of Economic crunch as the global fall in Oil Prices had seriously affected what trickles down from Abuja to the States. The State Governor His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa made the point very clear as he decried the level of indebtedness of the State. These are trying times that calls for those entrusted with Leadership positions to think outside the box

WHY IS THE POSITION OF THE SPEAKER IMPORTANT?

Rt. Hon. Chief Monday Ovwigho Igbuya

Members of the State House of Assembly has the Central Function of making New Laws, Amendment or making changes to existing Laws. They are also our Representatives and therefore our Voice in the Government. The most Important Function of the State House of Assembly is their oversight role in the Control of Government expenditure.
This is where many are counting on the Professionalism and Experience  of Hon. Chief Monday Ovwigho Igbuya to be the stabilizing force in the House. In Delta State we have not been known for Political wranglings between the Legislature and the Executive, so much so that many describe the State House of Assembly as a mere rubber stamp of the executive and that they are mostly interested in what they will pocket at the end of each Month and not about the plight of the people they represent. This is a believe that Chief Igbuya and members of the Honorable House need to correct.

THE DIVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY

In Delta State the ruling Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} had been in charge for the past Sixteen Years and Deltans expect the Okowa led Administration to build on the past achievements. Conscious efforts must be made to reduce expenditure and embark on more people oriented programs. the Administration is also saddled with bringing to fruition the much touted "Delta Beyond Oil" Policy of the previous Administration. We must find a way to improve our economy whilst at the same time shrinking our expenditure. In the words of His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa“We must be willing to commit ourselves to the new order, an era of love for all, where the good of all takes precedence over the gain of one." we hope that these are not mere sentimental expressions and that members of the Legislature and the Executive will work in line with the expectations of His Excellency.

MEETING EXPECTATIONS

The change Slogan has birthed a renewed wave of expectation,  There is growing discontent among the Citizens and as Ben Murray-Bruce pointed out "The Problem in Nigeria is Right versus Wrong" We must do the Right Things in Delta State. "A small Minority of People consuming all the resources of the State, while the vast majority die in abject poverty," is totally unacceptable. The High fences the rich erect in their homes and Police guards that surround them will not protect them if the people revolts as "Poverty breeds Hunger and Hunger breeds Anger and Violence." there must be conscious effort on the part of the Leadership to demonstrate clear cut determination to impact the life of the average Deltan and stick with that determination until it materializes. As Warren Bennis pointed out  "Leadership is the Capacity to translate Vision into reality" We hope and pray that; His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, His Excellency Kingsley Otuaro and Rt. Hon. Chief Monday Ovwigho Igbuya are Leaders. For in their shoulders lies the responsibility of translating our Collective Vision for a Transformed Delta State into Reality.