The unending disagreement between the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and members of the Imo State House of Assembly has worsened with the lawmakers dishing out fresh showdown against the number one citizen of the state.
There have been prolonged altercations between the two arms of government since late last year warranting the legislators to approach the court asking that their outstanding salaries and entitlements be paid before passage of the 2015 Budget of the state.To worsen the condition, the refusal of the governor to sign into law the creation of new autonomous communities undertaken by the State Assembly was said to have infuriated the lawmakers to maintain their posture on non-consideration of the governor’s Appropriation Bill.
Our Assembly correspondent who was at the complex for the resumption of the plenary session of the House during the week, learnt that the lawmakers have vowed not to meet for consideration of the budget. The House Members were said to have met previously at the office of the Speaker of the House on Wednesday where he reiterated their earlier stand of “No payment of outstanding allowances, no passage of 2015 budget.” Another crucial matter that forced the Representatives of the various State Constituencies to adopt “No sitting” is the decision of Okorocha not to give accent to the creation of new autonomous communities which they had adopted after the Hon Simeon Iwunze-led ad-hoc committee on autonomous communities had done a nice job.
Trumpeta learnt that the House is yet to hold plenary session as Members not only fail to form quorum but have been meeting secretly on how to pay back the governor in his own coin. A fence-mending meeting held at the Speaker’s office was unsuccessful as the lawmakers could not reach a compromise but preferred to walk away from the office.
It was learnt that the Members resolved that nothing from the governor especially the 2015 budget will be treated until 2014 constituency allowance and other unpaid what’re Crick)
Also considered as top priority before the budget is approved is the issue of signing into law, the creation of new autonomous communities which the Okorocha administration seems to be paying indifferent approach to.
Some Members are said to be having caucus meetings at different levels to ensure the position on the matter subsists.
