Hon. Emeka Nwaobi is the Majority Leader, Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA). He is also, the Chairman, Nigeria Majority Leaders’ Forum. In this interview with our Assembly Correspondent, Andrew Ikehi, he spoke on the emergence of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor as Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria {CSSLN], asserting that Guwor’s emergence reflects the inherent leadership qualities in him and other Deltans.
Excerpt:
Recently, precisely, Monday, February 10, this year, history was made in Delta State, particularly the State House of Assembly when, in faraway Abuja, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Emomotimi Denis Guwor was elected Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria [CSSLN]. Coincidentally or perhaps, by design, you were in Abuja when the news broke and the result was announced. As the leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, how did you receive the news of the Speaker’s emergence?
Like you said, I was physically present in Abuja when everything happened. Expectedly, we were very excited, we were so glad that God elevated him to that position. Just like I said on the floor of the House today, that was like a breaking News across the different States of the country. This is so because, for the first time in the history of this country, we have a Speaker from the Delta State House of Assembly as the Chairman of Conference of Speakers, the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly also Chairing the Committee of Deputy Speakers in Nigeria and, my humble self, the Leader of the State Assembly, also the Chairman, Nigerian Majority Leaders Forum. That is an attestation to the fact that, indeed, Delta State Legislature is the most vibrant State Legislature in Nigeria. It is often held across the country that Delta State is the most vibrant state legislature in Nigeria. With the emergence of Mr Speaker as the Chairman of Conference of Speakers, is an attestation to the fact that we are indeed, the most vibrant. If Delta State could be leading the conference of Speakers, leading the committee of Deputy Speakers as well as leading the forum of Majority leaders, that, no doubt, speaks volume. I am particularly very glad that, given the development, the media space was agog as there were celebrations everywhere in the state and beyond. The unique thing about his emergence was that, ordinarily, the position was zoned to the North. But the Northerners were the ones who championed the campaign that, haven seen the leadership qualities he (Guwor) possesses, that they were very convinced that at this particular material time, he was the best hand to pilot the affairs of the conference. So, indeed, as a person, I am very happy. On behalf of my constituents; the good people of Aniocha North State Constituency, we are happy. Again, on behalf of this great Institution, The Delta State House of Assembly, we are very happy. This is history made here. In the history of this great country, it has never happened that the three top officials of a State Legislature are chairing their separate organisations. Essentially, this is also, coming at a time the State Governor is being recognised as one of the best Performing Governors In the country. This, no doubt, is something to congratulate the State Governor about because, all of these are happening in his time as Governor of the State. He is not left out in the glory. He has made us proud by winning awards as one of the best performing Governors in the country. The Speaker, on his part, has made us proud by emerging as Chairman, Conference of Speakers. Also, the Deputy Speaker has made us proud by clinching the position of Chairman, committee of Deputy Speaker. Again, my humble self, I am sure that Deltans can still beat their hands on their chests to say that I have made them proud too by emerging as the Chairman, Nigeria Majority Leaders Forum. All these are happening within one State; Delta. It might interest you to know that our immediate past clerk, if not that she retired, was also the Chairman of all the Clerks in the Nigeria State legislatures. She occupied that position before she exited the House. What that shows is that, in Delta, we have capable hands. You can’t take it away from us. Beginning from the Governor, down to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the House and many others, the story is the same. For the clerk, assuming she is still the Clerk of the House, she would have also be the Chairman of all the clerks. That was the position she was occupying before she exited the House on retirement. So, I am very happy with His Excellency, the Governor, I am indeed happy with Deltans for this feat. In essence, what it means is that Deltans can now see that they did not make wrong choice. They had selected the best hands in each of these positions. It is something to rejoice about.
As much as you are happy, and Deltans happy too, one question that is lurking on the lips of Assembly watchers is “what does this translate to in terms of Governance and, indeed legislation?
In clear terms, it translates to the huge confidence being reposed in us by Deltans individually at our levels. If you belong to a union, your prayer is that you should not only be vibrant, but that you should be a leader. The reason is that you have seen something in him or her that he or she can take you through the right part; take the union to its dream place. Nobody would want, nobody dreams, nobody will allow someone who does not have the capacity of leadership to lead. A blind man cannot lead someone who sees. It is only the man who sees well and, probably sees better than you do that you would allow to lead you through to your dreamed destination. That is the simple analogy.
Given this, it is held in the holy writ, the Bible that to whom much is given, much is expected. As leader of the House, how would you advise the Speaker, and, Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislature in discharging his duties, ensuring that he upholds the confidence reposed in him?
The advice is very simple; he should live up to the expectation of the people. Meantime, I do not have any iota of doubts that he will deliver, because, I know his capacity, I know his worth, I know the connection he have, I know that he can drive the process, he can lead the conference to the next. There is no doubt that he has all it takes to live the conference of Speakers to their expected destination. All he requires from all of us is constant prayers so that God will continue to guild and guard him with His wisdom, the strength and good health in doing this job. That is just my prayers.
Finally, what should Deltans expect from you; the Eight Assembly, going forward?
Like you quoted earlier, “to whom much is given, much is expected, in most cases, position of leadership comes with its huge challenge. For me, when I took over the position as chairman, Nigeria Majority leaders’ Forum, my dream was to surpass the achievement of my predecessor which, to the glory of God, I know I am already achieving.
So, assuming this position, I know that he, the Speaker will also see it as a challenge. The man who had just handed over to him has done well, so, it becomes a challenge for him to surpass whatever achievement his predecessor had recorded. You can only be adjudged to have performed creditably well if you able to move the organisation higher than you met it. If yiu remain at the level where you met it, you can be said to have failed. It is when you have added to the organisation that you would be adjudged to have recorded success. So, he must do something differently. I have no doubt in him that he will succeed.
