New Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, has pledged that the 6th Assembly would indulge in best legislative practices and ensure that Abians enjoyed good value for every dividend of democracy delivered by government.

In his acceptance speech as the new helmsman of the Abia Legislature, Azubuike, who emerged unopposed as the 7th Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly also promised that the House would play a stabilising role in the present administration while cooperating with other arms of government without losing its independence.

The Speaker, who is doing his third term, said that the 6th House would build on the achievements of the 5th House and make efforts to break new grounds, adding that the Assembly would employ every good tool to make quality laws.

“We shall employ the tools of townhall meetings, robust debates and public hearings to enact quality laws for the effective and good governance of our state. This Assembly, under my watch, would continue to play its role as a stabilising force in our polity. We shall cooperate, collaborate and partner with other arms of government to ensure greater democracy dividends to our people without compromising our independence,” Azubuike said.

He noted that the house has no other option than to perform because expectations of Abians were high.

“We are assuming office at a time the expectations of Abians are high. To this end, we shall enact, review and repeal obsolete laws to tackle our infrastructural problems, revamp our public enterprises, clean our environment, give impetus to the private sector to drive our economy, provide meaningful and affordable education and health care,” the Speaker said, adding that the House “shall employ the machinery of oversight and other legislative interventions to ensure that Abians get value for every public money spent.”

He said his emergence has served notice that 6th House was united in the common goal of serving Abians, irrespective of their party affiliations, adding: “It is the honest belief of Abians that our collective leadership and representation will reduce their misery, poverty, hardship and hopelessness.”

He said would at all times be guided by the enormous responsibility the office imposes on him, assuring that he would be equitable and fair to all.

The speaker commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for not interfering with the process of choosing the leadership of the house and equally praised the immediate past governor, Chief Theodore Orji, for creating an environment which made the 5th Assembly to excel as the most peaceful House in the country.

The inauguration of the 6th assembly, which came into being after the Clerk of the House cum Permanent Secretary, Mr Johnpedro Irokansi, had read the proclamation of the governor, was witnessed by many political heavy weights in the country, including the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, the chapter chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emma Nwaka, former state and federal lawmakers and traditional rulers, among others.

•Photo shows Speaker Azubuike.