11th November, 2013
The Taraba State House of Assembly Monday elected a new speaker, Josiah Sabo Kente, a member representing Wukari 2 Constituency to replace the late Haruna Tsokwa who died after a brief illness on 4 November, 2013.
At the sitting of the Assembly today, a member representing Ardo-Kola Constituency, Emmanuel Ndane nominated Kente and was seconded by Hamam Abdalla, representing Bali Constituency.
The Speaker was immediately sworn-in by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Tanko Maikerifi, who presided over the sitting before the election supported by the clerk of the house.
In his acceptance speech, Kente called on all his colleagues to close ranks and cooperate with him to take the state to greater heights.
The new speaker described the late Toskwa as a patriotic Nigerian who stood for the unity of the state and appealed to all members to join hands in keeping his dreams alive.
Reacting to the election, a former speaker, Hon Istifanus Gbana pledged to support the leadership of the house to ensure peace and development of the state.
—Ben Adaji/Jalingo