By Chioma Onuegbu

Uyo—SPEAKER, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Samuel Ikon, yesterday, said the fifth Assembly was not in any supremacy battle with Governor Godswill Akpabio and  therefore, will not succumb to pressures by critics aimed at putting the House on collision course with the governor.

Ikon, who briefed newsmen as part of activities to mark the beginning of the 2014/2015 legislative year, flayed critics who have always described the fifth Assembly as ‘rubber stamp.’
He explained that people should not expect the House to always oppose policies and decisions of the executive as a way of proving that it was truly independent of the governor, noting that fights that exits between the legislature and the executive were usually unhealthy for democracy and the general good of Nigerians and Akwa Ibom people in particular.

“Such fights are meant to achieve personal political interest but for the interest and general interest of the people. The fifth Assembly will continue to bury parochial political interest and work for the good of the people.”
Ikon, who is also the Chairman Speakers Conference of Nigeria, noted that in the last legislative session, that  seven bills were passed into law in addition to resolutions  by the House under his administration.

The Speaker added that the Assembly had interfaced with relevant government organs to ensure that their was security in the 31 local government areas of the state.