By Onyekachi Eze
Members of Imo State House of Assembly have returned for Legislative businesses, six days after the suspension gavel hit on some of the Lawmakers over what the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem described as “unparliamentary conduct”.
The last Thursday’s sitting did not end well, as all the persons inside the Assembly temporary site, along the Heroes Square boulevard experienced palpable fear, orchestrated by the sporadic gun shots as a result of the tension caused by the suspension of Honorables; Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West, APC ), Kennedy Ibeh (Obowo, APC ), Philip Ejiogu (Owerri North, PDP), Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru, APC), Michael Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte/Uboma, APC), Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise, PDP).
The news therefore is not that they sat for Tuesday’s plenary, but the presence of heavy security operatives.
Trumpeta Newspaper monitored that security was beefed up in the premises.
Among the strategies for accreditation into the complex was the House of Assembly recognized identity cards. Failure to present it leads to automatic denial of entry.
After passing through the security check at the gate, entrance into the chambers was another difficult task so much that it was only few members of the Press Corps and Assembly workers that were allowed entry.
Similar scenario occurred during yesterday’s sitting, and information obtained by this Newspaper was that the House Leadership insisted on enforcing the suspension of the six members.
Recall that after their suspension, the affected members threatened to continue coming for sittings until the Speaker explained what he meant by “unparliamentary conduct”.
It could be that in exercising his powers, hence, the strict instructions that persons entering into the House complex be thoroughly checkmated.
Trumpeta Correspondent also observed that against their insistence that they were suspended ‘unjustly’, non of the suspended Lawmakers were spotted anywhere around the building Housing the State Legislature.
Some of the aides to the embattled Lawmakers were conspicuously absent.
The predominant security question posed to all visitors of the complex were “which LGA are you from? Which Constituency are you going to?”
The question has further raised serious worry suggesting that persons from either of the LGAs of the suspended House Members might not be allowed inside to avoid ‘had I known’.
In a related development, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem at the Tuesday session inaugurated the Appeal Committee to look into the suspension of the Six Lawmakers.
The Appeal Committee is made up of Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu as the Chairma, Hon. Johnson Iheonukara Duru (Vice Chairman). Members include; Hons; Uju Onwudiwe, Obinna Okwara, Kanayo Dele Onyemaechi, Emeka Nduka, and Tochi Okereke.
According to the Speaker, the Committee is expected to return their report within one month from July 13, 2021.
