Should what is happening in Ebonyi State is replicated in Imo State by aggrieved parties, another tsunami would be recorded in the political firmament of the State.
Palpable fear is said to have enveloped defected Lawmakers of the 9th House, Imo State House of Assembly, following the Court judgement that threw away the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, his Deputy, Igwe, and 17 lawmakers from office for defecting to another political party.
Indication has emerged that the judgement of the Abuja High Court which sacked Umahi and his Deputy, alongside the other 17 Members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly sent shivers down to the spines of Imo House of Assembly members.
Apart from the removal of the Ebonyi House Members by the judgement held by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, information obtained by Trumpeta has it parties in Imo who lost House of Assembly members after the 2019 election may go to court to challenge their defection with the purpose of ensuring they get the Ebonyi Lawmakers Court treatment.
Signs emerged yesterday that the Ebonyi outcome has shocked those of Imo when members reconvened for plenary on Wednesday.
Unlike the usual free movement witnessed at the Imo Assembly complex, Members who resumed for plenary yesterday posed indifferent postures suggesting all is not well.
The uncomfortable movement among the Lawmakers may not be unconnected to the feelings about the recent development their Ebonyi State counterparts are facing.
At the yesterday’s plenary session, where the man for Ngor Okpala, Hon. Blyden Amajirionwu was inaugurated by Speaker, Kennedy Ibeh, some of the members were absent.
After the inauguration, and half way on a debate on ground raised from a motion by Aboh Mbaise representative, the Speaker, stepped aside for few minutes break, before the house resumed presided by the Deputy Speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu.
It would be recalled that since the inception of the present 9th House, members have defected from one political party to another.
At first, they dumped their original parties after their inauguration.
During Governor Emeka Ihedioha administration of the PDP, the Lawmakers pitched tents with the new State Leadership.
Similar movement happened immediately the Supreme Court sacked the PDP’s Ihedioha and declared Senator Hope Uzodimma of the APC Governor of the 2019 Governorship election.
In less than 1 week, they also made an angle 360° U-turn to APC, up till date.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State outcome two days ago has opened a fresh reason for worry, considering the grounds the Federal High Court declared the affected Ebonyi Governor, Deputy, and 17 Members null and void.
Citing the Law, section 221 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, Justice Inyang Ekwo stated that because Umahi, his Deputy and the Lawmakers won under the PDP, and as such the votes of the PDP cannot be transferred to APC or another party, therefore declared it null and void.
The concern in Imo State House of Assembly now is, should PDP, APGA or AA decide to pursue the case of the defected members, how many will remain on seat?
Trumpeta Assembly Correspondent took time to highlight the members who left the party platform they won the seat to the present APC they are, currently.
The following won the 2019 election under the PDP platform and still intact till date.
Honorable Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise), Frank Ugboma (Oguta), Okey Onyekanma (Mbaitoli), Philip Ejiogu(Owerri North), Solomon Anukam(Owerri Municipal), and Paschal Okolie(Orlu).
For the APC, it is only the member for Ehime Mbano, Hon. Emeka Nduka, who contested under the broom party without any defection till date.
Joining Emeka Nduka is the newly elected and inaugurated Ngor Okpala man, Hon. Blyden Amajirionwu who got to the House under APC.
Other parliamentarians who won the 2019 State House of Assembly race and their original platforms are; Rt. Hon Kennedy Ibeh AA (Obowo), Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu APGA (Nwangele).
Honorables; Kanayo Onyemaechi PDP (Owerri West), Eddy Obinna PDP (Aboh Mbaise), Michael Njoku APGA (Ihitte/Uboma), Johnson Duru AA (Ideato South), Uju Onwudiwe AA (Njaba), Ngozi Obiefule AA (Isu), Paul Emeziem APGA (Onuimo), Chiji Collins APGA (Isiala Mbano), Uche Ogbuagu PDP (Ikeduru), Chidiebere Ogbunikpa PDP (Okigwe), Herclus Okoro AA (Ohaji/Egbema), Dominic Ezerioha PDP (Oru West), Samuel Otuibe PDP (Ahiazu Mbaise), Ekene Nnodumele APGA (Orsu), Arthur Egwim AA (Ideato North), Obinna Okwara AA (Nkwerre), and, Chigozie Nwaneri PDP (Oru East).
STUDENT’S AFFAIR: EXPEDITE ACTION ON ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES TO GRADUATES OR……
•HOUSE MEMBERS WARN UNIVERSITIES IN IMO
This may sound different from the usual news that emanates from the Law making body of Imo State, Nigeria, as Lawmakers have risen to say “enough is enough” on the continued delay on the issuance of certificates to students after graduation.
At Tuesday, March 8, 2022 Plenary Session of the House, the Members rose in a resolution to warn the management of respective tertiary institutions across Imo State to quit henceforth, with the snail pace approach of issuing relevant documents to new graduates.
In the House of Assembly motion no. 215, chiefly sponsored by the Member for Njaba State Constituency, Hon. Mrs. Uju Onwudiwe, the House condemned in totality the withholding of students’ statement of results, certificates, and transcripts after their sojourn in the University.
Not only that the mover of the motion decried the attendant consequences, she also frowned at the high cost of money the authorities in charge subject the students into, with little or no rapid response.
She said, any tertiary institution in Imo State, viz; the Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri, the Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Owerri, IMOPOLY, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, AIFCE, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, FECOLAT, which fails to issue students the above-mentioned documents after their four, five to six years in the school will have a query to answer from the Government.
There will be stiffer punishment for any erring school and the authorities involved.
As the House Committee Chairman on Education, the Njaba Lawmaker assured that the IMHA haven made the resolutions, and copied to the State Government and the institutions, her committee will ensure a full oversight in making sure that institutions do the needful.
Part of the prayers of the motion reads, “Realizing that graduates of these schools oftentimes have the need, either for employment purposes, National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), or for further academic demands, request for their statement of result, certificate and transcript from their alma mater;
“Noting that most times, such demands often face unwarranted delays and unnecessary waste of time thereby putting the beneficiary at risk of jeopardizing chances of meeting up with the deadline fixed by the prospective institution and in most cases, it leads to extortion of funds, to facilitate expedited release;
“Aware that the world has become a global village such that real-time online interface has become an acceptable way of institutional communication and interface and Imo State cannot afford to be operating in analogue format in a digitalized society, thereby creating encumbrances for people and stalling opportunities for our wards;
“Noting also that such delays have continued to discourage many of our youths from studying in such institutions either for undergraduate or postgraduate programs and it has continued to fester the corrupt tendencies where people intentionally make things difficult for others in order to rip them off scarce resources”.
After an exhaustive debate, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Kennedy Ibeh when put in a voice note, the House resolved that the relevant school authorities of the tertiary institutions in Imo State will investigate the causes of delay in processing and release of Statement of Result, Certificate and transcript of students or graduates of the schools, with a view to addressing unwarranted delays in the process:
They also resolved that the Imo State Ministry of Education will produce education administrative policy to eradicate undue delay in the processing and release of Statement of Result, Certificate and Transcript, in schools, to ensure that our students and graduates are not subjected to unnecessary delay with its attendant consequences.
The Co-Sponsors of the motion are; Hon Johnson Duru, Rt Hon. Amara Chyna lwuanyanwu, Hon. Philip Ejiogu, Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi, Hon Eddy Obinna, Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri.
FRESH TROUBLE FOR LOUNGE, CLUB OPERATORS IN OWERRI, AS IMO ASSEMBLY FROWNS AGAINST NOISE POLLUTION; CHARGES OCDA, OTHERS
It may no longer be business as usual for operators of lounges, pubs, event centres and kiosks in and around Owerri, the Imo State capital, if the resolutions by the members of Imo State House of Assembly are considered.
Activities of night crawlers in Owerri may have come to an end, following Legislative inputs, especially as it concerns late night music and gyrations.
The legislature on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, during plenary session, raised eyebrows on the resultant effects of noise pollution being generated from these social outlets.
Presenting his motion, the Member representing Aboh Mbaise, and the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Eddy Obinna opined that it has become worrisome on the high rate of noise residents of such areas where the eateries, lounges, pubs are situated.
He said rather than having a peaceful night rest after day’s hectic work, people sieve the noise from such places directly into their ears.
On that note, Eddy Obinna submitted that as a Law abiding State, people shouldn’t be allowed to thwart the peaceful coexistence among each other.
He was of the view that the original master plan of Owerri, as aptly captured in the Owerri Capital Development Authority, OCDA, edict should be returned and followed to the latter.
Even as he blamed OCDA authorities and its enforcement agents of laxity, Hon Obinna regretted that most developers divert from the initial plan the very minute they get approval from OCDA.
To this end, the parliamentarian urged OCDA to wake up from slumber and ensure people strictly abide by the edict, and not to go contrary to their approvals.
Eddy Obinna maintained that the motion is not targeted at anyone, but would help in restoring order and sanity in residential areas.
Contributing, the member for Oguta State Constituency, Hon. Frank Ugboma regretted that he sited his Law firm on Aba Road, just to avert such noise pollution currently witnessed in residential areas now.
Former Speaker and member for Isiala Mbano, Rt Hon Chiji Collins blamed truancy and corruption among the implementation agents.
“The same people enforcing these laws are the same ‘agberos’. They only go about extorting innocent Imolites. The motion is a good one, where our problem lies is on the implementing agents”.
“Whereas the Ministry of Environment and OCDA are charged with the responsibilities of environmental protection and management for the wellbeing of the people;
“Aware that any unwanted sound that our ears have not been built to filter, can cause problems within the body system, with effects such as; Psychological issues, Cognitive issues, Sleeping Disorders, Distractions, etc;
“Observed that most event centres, club houses, lounges and kiosks situated in residential and commercial areas, discomfort people’s activities through noise pollution;
“Further observed that the activities of the aforementioned places, particularly those that bring out their loud speakers to the road, generate noise, which disturbs the serenity of such environment”.
However, the House as presided by the Speaker urged the OCDA to review her records in line with the Master plan to effect compliance with layout regulations within the capital city of Owerri.
Also, the Ministry of Environment and Lands were urged to join in the oversight of OCDA activities so as to look into the issues of non-compliance with Imo State Master plan with a view to coming up with lasting solutions.
The Speaker however set up a joint House committee on Environment and Lands, and are to report back within three weeks.
BLYDEN AMAJIRIONWU ASSUMES OFFICE AS NGOR OKPALA LAWMAKER
•OGBONNA, EKEH HAIL VICTORY
The emerged Lawmaker-elect for Ngor Okpala Assembly bye-election held on February 26, 2022, Hon. Blyden Amajirionwu has been inaugurated by the Imo State House of Assembly.
Having fulfilled the electoral guidelines and certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC through the issuance of Certificate of Return, Amajirionwu was officially inaugurated yesterday, March 9, 2022.
Recall that the Speaker, through constitutional provisions declared the Ngor Okpala seat vacant before December 2021 holiday following the lapses of the former member, Hon. Tochi Okereke.
After the taking the oath of office, Speaker, Kennedy Ibeh enjoined him to serve his people selflessly without bias.
He thanked the APC and the people of Ngor Okpala for making a wise decision.
Reacting after plenary, the LGA APC Chairman, Hon Jude Ogbonna stated that before now, they were under represented by Tochi Okereke.
He expressed optimism that Amajirionwu will deliver the dividends of democracy, and restore all that was lost.
Lending his voice, a former TC of Ngor Okpala and Amajirionwu Campaign Director General, Hon. Sylvester Ekeh thanked God that the struggle ended successful with his candidate emerging victorious. Ekeh described the APC victory as a victory of the masses and for development.
Meanwhile, Hon Blyden Amajirionwu declined the House Correspondents an interview.
