By Isreal Joel
Conference of former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly led by its Chairman Governor Simon Lalong is in Calabar to pay last respects to former Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, late Rt. Hon. Mike Idoko Ogar.
Governor Lalong arrived at Calabar in the company of eight former Speakers of the Plateau State House of Assembly which include including Isa Chingwom Song, George Daika, Michael Dapianlong, and Istifanus Mwansat. Others are John Clark Dabwan, Titus Alams, Peter Azi and Joshua Madaki.
A statement signed by Simon Macham Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State reads that on arrival in Calabar, Governor Simon Lalong and his delegation were welcomed by the Governor of Cross River State Ben Ayade at the Government House.
It reads that Governor Lalong recalled with nostalgia the commitment of the late former Speaker to the stability of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.
He said the late Mike Ogar was one of those who championed the struggle for the autonomy of State legislatures shortly after the beginning of the fourth republic in 1999. The struggle to ensure Independence of the legislature according to him was one of the major reasons the late law marker was impeached as Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly.
He said they came to celebrate the worthy legacies of the deceased, pray and condole with condole his loved ones and the entire people of the State.
Responding, Governor Ben Ayade said he had leveraged on the experience of the late former Speaker in providing quality leadership for his people since he took over power in 2015.
Eid-el-Maulud: Northern Governors seek peaceful co-existence
Governor Ayade said the late Mike Ogar was one of those who advised him to join the ruling All Progressives Congress.
