Members of the Taraba State House of Assembly on Monday elected Mr. Josiah Kente as the new speaker.

Kente, who represents Wukari 1 constituency, replaced Mr. Haruna Tsokwa, who died early this month.

The House also received a list of new commissioners from the acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar. Goverrnor Danbaba Suntai, had on August 26, upon his return from a 10-month medical treatment in Germany and the United States following injuries he sustained in an air crash, dissolved the state executive council.

At the sitting of the  House on Monday, the Clerk of the House, Mr. Ismaila Ukwen, informed the members that the position of the Speaker, which was vacant as a result of Tsokwa’s death, needed to be filled.

Deputy Speaker, Mr. Adamu   Maikarfi, who presided over the session, thereafter called for nominations.

Mr. Emmanuel Dame, member representing Ardo- kola constituency, then  nominated Kente and was seconded by Hamman  Abdullahi of Bali II constituency.

Maikarfi, who immediately inaugurated the new Speaker congratulated him on his new position and urged him to carry everybody along despite the recent political impasse in the house.

While accepting the position, Kente admitted the immense responsibility which his colleagues had bestowed on him and promised that he would not fail them.

He said,  “This occasion calls for sober reflection and a period to deeply reflect and come to terms with the realities on the ground especially as they concern the leadership of this distinguished house. Indeed, I am greatly saddened by the recent sudden loss of our dear friend, brother, colleague and speaker, Rt. Hon Haruna Tsokwa, on the 4th November, 2013”.

The new Speaker pleaded with members to extend to him the  same cooperation and support given to the late Speaker.

He said that the entire state now looks unto them to engender confidence in the citizenry and restore peace, which has been endangered following the return of Governor Danbaba Suntai and worsened by the death of the former speaker.

The new speaker also performed his first function by reading a list of commissioners submitted by the acting governor.

-Punch