The former member that represented Owerri North Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon Ray Emeana has alleged that Imo number one citizen Owelle Rochas Okorocha forced him to relocate to Abuja after several harassment on him and his family through his committee for recovering government owned vehicles.
Hon Emeana stated this at Ezi-Irete where he was a guest speaker at an organized Easter seminar by the community. The seminar centres on “Ezi-Irete in the 21st Century; the way forward as an emerging urban area in contemporary Imo State, Nigeria” as its theme. While delivering his lecture on the influence of urbanized community on the people, Emeana who represented Owerri North stated that they need only unity and hard work to develop Irete community.
The lawmaker whose maternal home is Irete regretted that the youths of the community get fancy in embracing the bad effects of urbanization. He observed that migration of people from one community to another brings over-population, industries and educational institutions, poverty and environmental degradation. Also, he said that political persecution and intimidation brings migration as he was a victim of it in 2011, when Gov. Okorocha’s men allegedly snatched his wife’s vehicle in a Gestapo manner in the name of recovering government vehicles thereby forcing him to relocate to Abuja.
Hon Emeana challenged the community to invest on education, and preached unity of purpose amongst the 18 villages, and reminded them that part of their land is in Egbeada Housing Estate querying why Irete was expunged from the naming of the estate.
He also informed them that in the internet, Irete was mentioned as been under Ubomiri which ought not to be lastly, he advised them to have education trust fund where they can take money to help their children. Emeana for elevation of Bishop Lasbery school to a higher institution.
Moreso. At the event to deliver lecture is Sir Goddy Osuji on the theme “Economic Empowerment Through Networking”, He implored the youths to embrace entrepreneur and hand works learning than be idle and dependent to their aged parents.
Prof Raphael Unuegbu Ononogbo was the moderator while Eze-Elect Mazi Joseph Uzoma Ibe was present with his subjects to add colour to the occasion.
In related development a former member of the Imo State House of Assembly and immediate past Majority Leader, Hon Dr John Egbuchulem has expressed disappointment on the conduct of the present members of the state legislature.
Addressing journalists at the UPP state party office, Owerri, Egbuchulem who is the party chairman in Imo noted that the crop of lawmakers representing various constituencies in the present dispensation deserve pity for not been able to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
While describing his predecessors as not living up to expectation in terms of performing their legislative duties and oversight functions, Egbuchulem regretted that the state legislature has transformed from a statutory arm to an extension of executive arm of government in the state.
According to the member who represented Mbaitoli in the last dispensation, the House of Assembly has not only lost its qualities but the refined taste that distinguishes members of the House from other elected persons in a democratic setting. Said he; “It is regrettable. What we are seeing today is different from what it used to be in Imo Assembly in the past. The House has become an extension of the state executive council”
Egbuchulem recalled that unlike what is obtained in Imo House in the present dispensation, private member bills and motions out numbered that sponsored the state government when they spoke the voice of their constituents at the chamber.
“During our time, we had private-member sponsored Bills than the Executive and the House was not an appendage of the Governor’s office. But what you have are honourable members doings commissioner jobs and acting as special adviser. It is ironical we have House of contractors. In our time, we devoted time to lawmaking than executive assignments.
Protecting of interest of our constituents and several oversight functions were our watchwords unlike the present situation where the members are at risk and at the mercy of the governor who threatens to arrest some of them over complicities involved in road contract projects”
Apart from recalling that the PDP dominated House forced the then Governor, Ikedi Ohakim to dump PPD for PDP, the last House vetoed the governor’s power to sign death penalty as part of sanctions for hostage-taking and kidnapping as well as the dropping of unqualified commissioner and Special Adviser nominees who fail to prove their mettle during well televised and public screening.
Egbuchulem described as ludicrous reports that the Governor is dragging some members to APC whereas it should have been vice-versa.
