Delta Speaker Bags Excellence Award

For his numerous achievements and laudable contributions in enhancing the growth and prosperity of Deltans, the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA), Sapele branch has honoured, Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya with the prestigious Award of Excellence.

“It is our privilege to honour this worthy ambassador of Sapele Local Government Area in the House, the Honourable Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and the No. 3 citizen of our great state with this Award of Excellence for his exemplary leadership in the legislature and his noteworthy contributions in transforming the lives of people generally”, President, GCUOBA, Sapele branch, Mr. Mike Madagwa said at the association’s 2015 Annual Luncheon Party in Sapele.

The association also honoured Olorogun John Iyasere, Olorogun Enayomo Esike and Chief Jonathan Ojarikre.

Hon Igbuya was born in the late fifties into the families of late Deacon Ezekiel Amereghene Igbuya of Edegbrode/Ugbimidaka, Elume and Mrs. Emurhowho Igbuya of Amukpe/Ugborhen, both of Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.

Hon Igbuya joined active politics in 1987 and contested for the post of a councilor in Ward 1 in the then Okpe Local Government of old Bendel State, which he won convincingly. Later, when two political parties were formed under the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (Social Democratic Party, SDP and National Republican Convention, NRC, he pitched his tent with the SDP and rose to become the Publicity Secretary in Delta State. This was when Chief Felix Ibru was the civilian governor of the state.

In 1988 which was to signal the advent of this present uninterrupted political dispensation, Igbuya was in the same political camp (Delta National Congress) with Chief James Ibori, who was popularly referred to as the Grand Commander. This political association later merged with a strong political group known as the G34, which later metamorphosed to become the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998. Igbuya wasted no time as he contested in the primaries and got the PDP ticket to run as the chairmanship candidate in the general election, which he won overwhelming. He was sworn in as the chairman of Sapele Local Government where he performed creditably, from 1999 to 2003. After his tenure and while waiting for the next election, he was appointed as Caretaker Committee Chairman of Sapele Local Government between 2003 and 2004.

With his pedigree and antecedents, it was not surprising that at the next election, he was re-elected chairman of Sapele Local Government from 2004 to 2007. Having garnered tremendous experience in local government affairs, his colleagues unequivocally endorsed him as the pioneer Delta State ALGON chairman.

In 2007, Igbuya felt it was time to move up the political ladder. He contested on the ticket of the PDP and got elected into the Delta State House of Assembly to represent Sapele Constituency. He again proved his mettle in the House as he was well known for his constructive/positive input at plenary, where he sponsored so many bills aimed at alleviating the lives of the people, which were eventually passed into law. At the Assembly, he was the pioneer House Committee Chairman on DESOPADEC, Member, Select Committee and Member, Committee on Sports.

At the 2011 general elections, Igbuya was again voted by the electorate to represent them at the House of Assembly. As one of the very few who won a ticket back to the House with wealth of experience, he was unanimously appointed as the Majority Leader, a position with so much influence and goodwill.

The biggest feat so far for Igbuya in the state legislature after he was re-elected (for a third term) to the House in 2015 was when his colleagues elected him as the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, which makes him the No 3 citizen of the state.