By Kelechi Ugo
The days of the Secretary to the Imo State Government, Prof Anthony Anwuka is numbered in the executive cabinet of the Rescue Mission government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha if yesterday developments in the Imo State House of Assembly are anything to by.
In one of the last preliminary sittings of the House organized to mark the end of the legislative year, the issue of the SSG, Prof Anwuka dominated proceedings at the plenary of the House where members resolved to summon him for certain acts inimical to the constitutional rights of the members.
The members during the plenary session chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Pharm Donatus Ozoemena did castigate Anwuka for persistent infringement of the rights and privileges of the elected members of the House.
Leading the onslaught against Anwuka is the member representing Ohaji/Egbema, Hon Chief Luke Chukwu via motion for adjournment seeking for dissolution of a fresh committee set up by the SSG to look into the lingering matter rocking the Adapalm Landlord Association. Chukwu in the motion regretted the action of Anwuka which was in contrast to the efforts of the State Assembly that delved into the matter and set up a caretaker committee for the association.
He noted that such action of an SSG erodes the functions and desirability of a state legislature in a democratic structure adding that such acts are unbecoming of a member of the state executive who was not elected to represent the masses.
Another member, Hon Celestine Ngaobiwu of Obowo and other members who contributed when the member came up on the floor of the House disclosed that Anwuka has been accused of working against the interest of the House before now. The members who spoke in unionism observed that the SSG has allegedly been working at crossroads with the state lawmakers.
Adding his voice to the issue, the member representing Oru East, Barr Greg Okemili recalled that despite the intervention of the House into the cult related crisis of Ochia autonomous community, in Ohaji/Egbema, Anwuka allegedly challenged the authority of the state legislature by aiding the state Conflict Resolution Committee to set up another probe panel on the matter.
The House while adopting the motion resolved to invite the SSG to the House for explanations.
Meanwhile, the house has directed the Civil Service Commission to reinstate Dr (Mrs) V.N. Onyenekwu to complete her service in October this year and gave the body two weeks to implement the decision or face severe reactions from the state legislature. Age discrepancies noticed in her date of birth forced the reverse of decision.
Therefore, the House finally adjourned to 27th August, 2013.
