By Onyekachi Eze
Real factors associated to why the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem was impeached by his colleagues have finally emerged, if what Assembly Vibes gathered are considered.
Speaker Emeziem was shown the way out from being the number one Imo Lawmaker and number three citizen in the State by the signature of nineteen House Members.
The action was executed on Monday, barely a week after the Deputy Speaker was reportedly removed and a new Speaker in the person of Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibeh was elected and sworn-in immediately.
Reason for Emeziem’s ouster may not be unconnected to an alleged fresh romance with a political bigwig from the zone (Okigwe zone), Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
Moments Emeziem failed in the impeachment of his second in command, Rt Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu, revelations related to his alleged renewed relationship with former political master, Araraume came up.
According to several write ups authored by commentators traced to the Deputy Speaker, Emeziem was accused or retracing steps to Araraume, suspected to be an attempt to align with those believed to be political enemies of Governor Hope Uzodimma for an onslaught against the APC governor in the State.
It would be recalled that Emeziem and Araraume had things in common in the past if the 2019 election details are considered. The former Speaker who represents Onuimo LGA was formerly part of the Araraume’s political family named Destiny Organisation when he was handed the APGA ticket for House of Assembly while Araraume was for the governorship. It was believed that the popularity of APGA in Okigwe zone during the 2019 election and Araraume influence were instrumental to the Emeziem’s victory.
Despite dumping APGA to APC where he got the speaker position and working in fresh political romance with governor Uzodimma, the accusations that he visited Araraume recently to congratulate him on the NNPC chairman job appointment sparked off resentment against him by the powers in Government House, Owerri.
It is not hidden that Araraume is at crossroads with the administration of Uzodimma after his struggle to get APC ticket for Okigwe zone senate was futile.
Trumpeta Assembly Vibes was informed that forces in Government House, alarmed by the alleged fresh romance with Araraume prompted the reversal of the Deputy Speaker’s impeachment before going after Emeziem who was removed.
Even though Araraume is currently a card carrying member of APC, there is a major line between his own faction and the Camp Hope faction.
Aside from the Araraume factor, it was learnt that some key office holders from Okigwe Zone were not happy with Emeziem over issues related to APC structure in Imo State. To carry the members of the State Legislature along in the running of the party, Trumpeta was informed that Uzodimma carried Emeziem along in the affairs of the party and the State. In the process, the fair skinned former Speaker was said to have also had unhealthy brushes with top government officials from his zone who could not only come for his rescue but also induced his impeachment.
It was also learnt that the six lawmakers Emeziem suspended in July this year and kept away from the House of Assembly about four months supported his impeachment as a means to get back at him for authorizing their sanctions. Those against the former Speaker were said to have won over the sympathy of the suspended six to prosecute the impeachment.
