CALABAR – Member representing Abi State Constituency in the Cross-River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Davies Etta has said promised a robust constituency engagement as a returning member in the 10th Assembly of Cross River State.
Addressing Newsmen shortly after the inaugural sitting of the 10th assembly where he emerged the Deputy Leader of the House, Etta acknowledged that there were some lapses in his representation in the 9th assembly, but promised to beach the gap with the second term opportunity granted him.
He averred that he had good plans and strategies lined up to as a first timer but was distracted with the unfortunate court judgement that saw him going back to the field for campaign and election. Stating that the ugly situation put him off balance.
“Out of the 25 members in the house, I happen to be the only one that had the longest court case. Finished from tribunal, went to the tribunal appeal and my elections were declared inconclusive. We had to go back to the field for re-election and then I was re-sworn-in.
He however, added that despite all that happened to him, he still presented the highest number highest number of bills amongst his peers in the 9th Assembly.
Etta said although he was the only one in the 9th assembly who had the longest court cases in the tribunal, he came up top most amongst his peers with the highest number of bills and motions. He said he moved nine motions as well as sponsoring six bills.
He noted that out of the six bills, three bills were passed and others still at the committee stage. He also said he had moved a bill for the prohibition of “Medical Quackery” in the State. This he informed was due to the increase of quack Medical doctors in the State.
“I was able amongst my peers to come up top most with the highest bills and motions in the house. I moved nine motions and sponsored about six bills.
“Out of the six bills three bills were passed and others still within the committee stage. Most importantly, the medical Quackery prohibition bill in the state, Because while in the hospital I noticed many people had died as a result of patronizing quacks as medical doctors, some who didn’t die had lots of complications and the bill is to reduce the amount of mortality rates in Cross River State”. He mentioned.
On what he will do differently in the 10th Assembly, he noted that although the assembly now has multi-party membership, he would ensure that there is peace and stability in the house, in order to create a workable synergy between the legislature and the executive.
“As a returning member my role is to encourage the new members to understand the rudiments of lawmaking to rally around them to ensure that we are able to support the executive to smoothly unroll their policies.
” To ensure there is stability in the house so that the executive can concentrate on the actual act of governance.
” I will like to improve my drive for the process of my bills I discovered the process was slow and most of the bills didn’t get to the third stage.”
