Even the suffocating state of the Imo House of Assembly Chambers yesterday and all the opposite permutations could not stop Hon Ihenacho Ihim, member representing Okigwe State Constituency from emerging the new Speaker of the 8th Imo Assembly.
The ranking member, Ihim, was nominated by a fellow ranking member, Hon Ikechukwu Amuka, representing Ideato South State Constituency and was supported by a fresher, Hon Lawman Duruji from Ehime Mbano State Constituency for the post of the Speaker. When there was no contrary nomination, Hon Ihim was returned unopposed which was followed by his swearing-in and oath of office administered by the Clerk of the House, Barr Chris Duru.
All these took place after proceedings and formalities had been observed, including the reading of the proclamation of the governor by the Clerk and the presentation of goodwill messages by the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
The next sitting was adjourned to Tuesday, June 16, when other principal officers of the 8th Assembly will be elected.
If not for the prompt intervention of visitors at the Imo State House of Assembly complex, venue of the inauguration of the 8th Assembly, there would have been a serious clash between a State Assembly worker and the Security agents who were deployed there to ensure a smooth inauguration.
The rift started when Security agents who were struggling at the Assembly complex tried to manage the teeming crowd of party supporters who had come to witness the inauguration of their House Members. One of the Security agents (names withheld) mistook a certain Permanent Secretary (names withheld), who was struggling to pass through the crowd as a mere visitor.
In a bid to stop the Permanent Secretary from entering the Hall, there was a physical confrontation where the security agent accused the Permanent Secretary of pushing him which made him retaliate with a slap. “Why will he push me? That was why I beat him.” The Security agent said.
The action of the Security agent angered the workers who saw it as an insult and humiliation on a very high ranking civil servant, as they pounced on the Security agent physically and verbally before one of the visitors intervened and rescued the Security agent.
However, another drama which made a good number of people leave the Assembly Chamber was the fainting of people in their numbers including a Media person (cameraman) attached to the wife of the Governor.
It was learnt that the young man’s crisis was caused by poor ventilation in the Chamber, as he is known for not staying in such stuffy environment because of his health challenges and was rushed to the Hospital.
He was revived before he was taken out of the Chambers.
