By kelechi ugo
The infamous law No 12 of 2012 which is popularly referred to as the “Abortion Law” passed by the Imo State House of Assembly and assented to by Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha suffered a serious setback yesterday when the state lawmakers licked their spit to adjourn it sine die.
It would be recalled that the Abortion Law had raised media ruckus and pitched contending forces against each other before Governor Okorocha made a volte face about his assent to the law when he told the House Members to repeal it after public apology.
The state lawmakers who commenced deliberations on the matter after a committee of the House was set up by the Speaker recently, fast-tracked the resolution of the issue when the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Barr Ikenna Emeh representing Isu moved a motion based on order of privilege since the matter was not contained in the Order Paper (working paper) of the House during Thursday’s plenary session. Emeh who was allowed to speak commented on reasons why the said “Abortion Law” should be adjourned sine die.
Ranking lawmakers of PDP extraction comprising Honourables Emeh, Stan Dara, Obioma Ekennia, Celestine Ngaobiwu, Samuel Anyanwu and Simeon Iwunze backed the motion as co-sponsors for the repeal of the vexed abortion law.
Majority of the members who spoke in support of Emeh’s motion added that there is need to kill the obnoxious law to let the “sleeping dog lie” and avoid blasts from the public who have been pouring unnecessary invectives at the state lawmakers for okaying the Bill in the first instance.
Others who spoke in support of Emeh include SamDaddy Anyanwu (Ikeduru), Simeon Iwunze (Isiala Mbano) and Robertson Ekwebelem (Onuimo). However, there was comic relief on the floor of the House when Kingsley Dimaku (Ehime Mbano) told Members that he can now go home and meet with his constituents adding that a deacon to be ordained Catholic Priest requested for his presence but without querying him on the Abortion Law. The Speaker added to the anti-climax when he said that the sine die status of the law has killed the so-called “Abortion Law”, joking that the Abortion law has been sent to Obowo Mortuary where Hon Celestine Ngaobiwu his fellow Okigwe zone man and representative of the area comes from
Trumpeta gathered that the Members have been restless since the Abortion law news outbreak. Most of them who have future political ambitions are at the verge of loosing their popularity and acceptance at the grassroots levels because of their involvement in the whole saga.
The Abortion law has thrown the present crop of lawmakers into a pit of hell hence the decision to make a U-turn. Most of them who are unaware of the contents and processes involved before passing the Bill into law saw the killing of the controversial rule as the only saving grace to escape public wrath and continuous attacks from their constituents.
Meanwhile, the Imo State House of Assembly yesterday met during the plenary to select members that would act as the screening committee to those nominated as members of the various boards and commissions as well as Special Advisers. While Member representing Ezinihitte, Dr Obioma Ekenia is incharge of one of the committees, his counterpart from Aboh Mbaise, Mrs Pat Ekeji takes charge of the other.
Receiving the nominees list which was sent to it by the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu constituted a committee led by Hon (Barr) Pat Ekeji Ngozi to screen the nominees in order to confirm their appointment.
The nominees for Imo State Independent Electoral Commission include Barr Amaechi Nwoha (Chairman), Hon Maxwel Nwokeji (Member), Hon Charles Ejiogu (Member), Ambrose Uwa (Member), Fabian Okorie (Member), and Okey Ogwuegbu (Member). Members of Local Government Service Commission are; Barry Teddy Akwari (Chairman), Barr Emma Owete (Member), Sabastine Ibezim while ISOPADEC has its members as, Alex Ogwazuo (Chairman), Dr Henry Okeafor (MD), Aaron Awuzie (Member), Cyril Nwokorobia (Member) and Prince Cally Nwokoma (Member).
