Taraba Assembly speaker resigns

The Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Mark Bako Useni, yesterday resigned his position.

Useni, who ascended the leadership position of the Assembly last month, gave no reason for his resignation, stating that: “I have decided to willingly resign as the Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly.”

Citing Order 2 Rule 2 of the House, the Clerk of the Assembly, Ismaili U. Tentason, declared the position of the Speaker vacant, stressing the need for the members to as a matter of urgency fill the vacant post.

Declaring the seat vacant, Useni nominated Abel Peter Diah to fill the position. This decision was seconded by the member representing Zing constituency, Bonzina Kizito.

Kizito was Speaker of the House before his election was nullified by the appeal court, which ordered a re-run.

Briefing journalists on the development, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Saleh Sa’ad, said the decision of the Speaker was based on personal reasons.

Corroborating the clerk, he said the members decided to urgently appoint a new Speaker in order not to allow activities of the House to drag.

Sa’ad, who told newsmen that there is no rancour in the House, said the members would continue to work as a team for the interest of the electorate and the entire people of the state.

Speaking with The Guardian, the new Speaker, Diah, said: “The former Speaker is a man of integrity, he has brought many changes to the House, and since he has decided to resign, the Assembly under my leadership, would still hold him in high esteem.