'Grateful' Assembly Speaker pledges commitment to C'River project

By Ogbu Kosy  

The newly sworn-in Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem has restated his commitment to oversee a legislature that would prioritise legislations and policies that reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the Cross Rivererians.

Rt. Hon. Ayambem, who made the remarks at the event of his swearing-in reception, yesterday in Calabar, said the 10th Assembly will work closely with the other arms of government to redirect the State to the path of greatness.

In his promising to always hew to the line that is best for the state, the number one lawmaker harped on the need for equity and fairness, which he described as the hallmarks of a democratic society, while re-echoing his 'egalitarianism' mantra as guiding principle of his leadership.

Ayambem pledged to operate an open door policy for Cross Rivererians would be part and parcel of the goings-on in the Assembly where legislations would have direct bearing on people.

The lawmaker also thanked God for His sovereign grace that has led him in every step of the way onto his emergence as speaker. He tasked the esteemed crowd to put God first in all of life's endeavours, inferring to scriptural book of Philippians 4:13 as the source of his inspiration.

He expressed special appreciation to the political leader of Ikom, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba and business mogul, Barr. Chris Agara for their fatherly disposition and direction. He also thanked the people of Ikom II for returning him back to the Assembly through their votes, while promising to repay their trust to the social contract of representing them, as well as leading the 10th Legislative Assembly.

"I want to thank the former chief of staff to the governor, Chief Martin Orim, Dr. Romeo Oko, Sir Godwin Iyala and all those who played a role in his emergence," he added, eulogising his parents for giving him the sound upbringing which fortified him to be who he is today, and his wife for being his pillar of strength.

Ayambem took the teeming crowd on a nostalgic history, emotively recounting the difficult years growing up in his hometown of Nde in Ikom, where he had took up hewing of wood, tilling of heaps and other servile jobs to afford secondary education, urging the youths not to succumb to present difficult situations of life, but rather weather the storms and reach for greater heights, noting that through hard work, the story would always change.

"You must eschew crime and refused to be overwhelmed by the vicissitudes of life. Failure is a thing of the mind. If you do not reason beyond the walls you see, you will never cross the rubicon. There are no barriers in making it in life. There is always light after the night," he admonished.

He concluded with a calling on Cross Rivererians to support the new administration in the State in order to assist the leaders in their quest to better the lots of the state.