The fifth Assembly of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly has been formally inaugurated today. As a prelude to the exercise, the fourth Assembly of the house ended Friday with a valedictory session to bid farewell to the 2007-2011 members. The 26 members elect for the new assembly – 10 old ones and 16 new ones where made accustomed to citizen expectations on house members.

The customary tutelage kicked off Tuesday last week, at Monty Suites, Calabar, Cross River, and was rounded up Thursday. The Akwa Ibom state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who declared the workshop open, congratulated the 10 members re-elected and the 16 newly elected member for being found worthy to represent their constituencies in the Assembly. The Governor represented by the speaker of the house, Mr Anietie Etuk, also commended the outgoing members for their dedication and commitment to making laws that moved Akwa Ibom forward.

He said that the contributions of the fourth assembly to the massive infrastructural development of the state would not be forgotten in a hurry and prayed God to reward them for their good services. In a related development, the just concluded fourth Assembly has successfully passed 24 executive bills, out of which 17 has so far been assented to by the state Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

Apart from the bills, the house also passed 24 resolutions aimed at directing the state government or its agencies to take various actions for the benefit of the people of the state. The speaker of the Assembly, Mr Anietie Etuk, stated on Friday during the valedictory session to mark the end of the Assembly. Etuk also noted that Akwa Ibom House of Assembly was among the first set of Assemblies that consented to the first, second and third amendment of the Nigerian constitution.

At the swearing-in ceremony, Hon. Sam Ikon (Etinan) this afternoon emerged Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, while Comrade Udo Kirian Akpan (Oruk Anam) emerged as the Deputy Speaker. Rt. Hon. Okpolupum Ette (Ibeno/Esit Eket) was elected Leader of the House, while Hon. Alice Ekpeyong (Mbo) clinched the position of Chief Whip. Rt. Hon. Emman Akpan (Essien Udim) was returned as Deputy Whip with Hon. Dr. (Mrs) Ekaete Ebong (Itu) elected as Deputy Leader.