The Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman has commended the Executive Governor of Kogi State His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello for cementing a cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in the State.
He made the commendation when he led members of the Conference to a courtesy visit to the Governor at Banquet Hall, Kogi State Government House Lokoja today.
The Chairman explained that for any meaningful development to take place in a democracy, there must be effective cooperation between all the three arms of government, saying that the cordial relationship between the two arms in Kogi State, is resulting in multiple dividends.
“In my State Bauchi, I am a beneficiary of such working relationship because my Governor is giving every support required to the State Assembly and it is resulting in a lot of development in the State.
“I therefore call on all other States to ensure this kind of relationship for the benefit of their people.” He said.
According to him, the Speakers are in Kogi State to honour the wedding of the daughter of the National Treasurer of the Conference who is also the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Prince Mathew Kolawale and conduct an extraordinary meeting of the Conference.
Earlier Speaking, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Prince Matthew Kolawale thanked the Speakers for the honour done to him by gracing the wedding events of his daughter, saying that this is the first time Kogi State hosts the Speakers of State Assemblies which he described as great honour to the people of Kogi.
He narrated how supportive Governor Bello has been to him and the State Assembly which he said has led to uncommon transformation of the State.
In his response, Governor Yahaya Bello thanks the Speakers for the visit and honouring his brother the Speaker of the State, assuring that the visit will remain indelible in the memory of the people of the State.
According to him, for any democracy to thrive, there must be synergy, cooperation and understanding between all the arms of government especially executive and Legislative arms, explaining that this is what formed the basis of his support and cordial relationship with the State Assembly.
He explained that when he was elected as Governor of the State in 2016, he found the State ravaged by many mundane issues but with the support of the State Assembly, he was able to change the narratives to positive ones.
While explaining how he succesfully implemented measures that secure the State against, banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram and all forms of political criminality, the Governor charged the Conference to work toward uniting and securing the country, stressing that the Conference has vital role to play in that regard.