By peter uzoma
Palpable tension and uneasy calm have taken over the premises of the Imo State House of Assembly following report of impeachment threat against the House leadership.
Trumpeta on Tuesday exclusively revealed alleged plot by some members to effect change of leadership where the Speaker, Ben Uwajumoju and Deputy Donatus Ozoemenam would be swept off and replaced by some named lawmakers.
Ahead resumption of House sitting today, Trumpeta learnt that the level of uncertainties has reached feverish pitch with most of the actors going into hiding to plot strategies to outsmart their opponents. The newspaper’s impeachment exposure further heightened tension and created mutual suspicion between the two divides.
Our reporter who visited the Assembly complex during the week reported that there is peace of the grave yard as all the members kept off the premises and reportedly attended different camp meetings.
Most of the lawmakers only sent out their personal assistants to nose around the Assembly Complex on latest developments as well as operate as spies for the purposes of obtaining information on the whereabout and operations game has further confirmed reports that all is not well in the lawmaking house
Today’s resumption is still cloudy following reports that the Speaker has not been spotted in Owerri since last weekend he travelled out of state while the Deputy is billed to leave the state for another engagement. The absence of the two major principal officers may stall resumption since the House cannot resume plenary without the Speaker or Deputy presiding.
Trumpeta however gathered that face mending moves are occurring behind the scene with Uwajumogu’s allies closing up on their aggrieved colleagues for re-approachment and peaceful settlement. It was further learnt that the offensive members were informed that Uwajumogu is not the problem despite heaps of blame and negative publicity he has been accused of.
Meanwhile, as the impeachment threat is going on, a horse-trading business is going on as all may not have been heard about the unstable state in the Imo State house of Assembly. It may not be rosy when the House resumes its plenary session just at the seat of the speaker Ben Uwajumogu get hotter and hotter.
Trumpeta gathered that presently, the House members from Ideato North, Oru East, Njaba, Owerri Municipal and Owerri North are currently being hounded to forcefully join APC.
A source close to the members which pleaded anonymity said the members have been offered thirty million naira each if they agree to join APC. The source said each member would receive an initial six million naira cash payment while the remaining balance of twenty-four million naira would be made available to each of them by September this year during which it would have been clear they have properly joined APC to enable APC have majority in the House.
The affected members are said to have bluntly refused to accept the offer and this scenario has added to the impasse and dilemma in the House presently.
Our source wonders why the impeachment of Speaker Uwajumogu has not materialized since PDP is in the majority in the House.
