By peter uzoma
The war against non-APC compliant lawmakers in the Imo State House of Assembly, reportedly orchestrated by the executive arm of the state government is entering another dimension. Members of the state legislature unwilling to join APC from APGA and PDP are said to be losing out in certain prerogatives and privileges ceded to the State Assembly members.
Five days after the seat of a staunch APGA member and lawmaker representing Oru East Hon Barr Greg Okemili was declared vacant over an Appeal Court decision taken in June last year, other lawmakers suspected not to be disposed to joining Okorocha in APC are at receiving end of vengeance from the Executive Council.
The new found vengeance came to the fore yesterday when nominees of the lawmakers for the LGA transition committee were yanked off from the main list expected to have been sworn-in yesterday.
It would be recalled that the state government last year compiled and made public lists of transition committee members of each LGA in the state. Apart from state government officials making inputs, the lawmakers irrespective of party lineage and affiliations were carried along as the penciled down names short listed for the exercise. Each member has not less than three names per LGA waiting for swearing in and inauguration by the TC Chairman until this volte face.
However, some of the lawmakers especially those of PDP and APGA were shocked yesterday when a new list emerged for inauguration and their nominees and preferred candidates names missing.
Trumpeta gathered that contrary to the published lists, the TC Chairmen were directed to office of the Chief of Staff to the governor for authentic and fresh list to be used for the inauguration. Most affected in the reshuffle were nominees of non APC lawmakers and those opposed to the party in the State Assembly, while those loyal to the Governor had their nominees intact and untouched.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers are exploring all avenues to ensure that their humiliated colleague who was sacked for alleged unjust reasons, Okemili, was recalled and sack order quashed. Worried at the sad development which is a dangerous trend, the concerned lawmakers met at a meeting and decided to send a delegation to speaker for verification and possible withdrawal of the vacation threat.
Trumpeta gathered that the members demanded vacation of the sack order adding that the legislative arm is an independent body and should not be an appendage of the executive by taking directives from an executive member. The requested that the matter be settled internally than involving other arms of government.
Our reporter who has been monitoring activities of the House since Okemili’s sack revealed that Speaker Uwajumogu reportedly tired to extricate himself from the action with certain explanations pointing at a direction. Uwajumogu was said to have claimed that he was in Lagos and asked to proceed home to collect the sack letter which he read on the floor of the House on adjournment.
Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the suspension of Okemili may likely shake the foundation of the unity of the state legislature if proper measures, are not taken by Speaker Uwajumogu to calm the situation ahead House resumption tomorrow.
