By Our Correspondent
Two ranking Cross River lawmakers yesterday clinched the Chairmanship of two standing committees of the House of Representatives.
The duo of Hon. Daniel Asuquo a.k.a. Dansuki, representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, emerged Chairman, House Committee on Power, while Hon. Essien Ayi, representing Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency, is Chairman House committee on Niger Delta.
Three other representatives who are first timers in the House also settled for Deputy Chairmanship positions.
Hon. Legor Idagbo, representing Bekwara/Obudu/Obanlikwu Federal Constituency is Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, while Hon. Jarigbe Agom, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency is Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education.
Hon. Mike Etaba, another first timer who took over from Senator Owan Enoh as representative of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency also emerged Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Pensions.
The other three Cross River representatives in the House could not make it to the leadership of any of the 96 standing committees.
Worst hit is Hon. Bassey Ewah, representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, who was the Chairman, House Committee on Gas in the 7th Assembly. He will now fill the Cross River quota in the Committee on Federal Capital Territory.
Hon. Eta Mbora, representing Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, is a member of the House Services committee, while Hon. Chris Agibe, representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, will also fill the State’s quota in the House Committee on Appropriation.
Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, had Thursday announced the constitution of 96 standing committees of the House of Representatives.
In a bid to consolidate his support base in the APC dominated House, the Chairmanship position of the committees were divided among the political parties with the APC taking 48 and the opposition PDP taking 46 Chairmanship positions leaving the rest for the smaller parties.