Over Non Commitment To 51st Birthday Celebration, As Members Dare Court On Screening Of ISIEC Nominees
The seeming cold war between Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Members of the Imo State House of Assembly has degenerated to full scale altercations as the Governor tackles the state Lawmakers for failing to identify with his on going 51st birth day programes.
Apparently irked by the indifference approach adopted by the members of the State Assembly to some of his private and official engagements in recent times especially the ongoing 51st Birthday celebration, Okorocha was reported to have expressed misgivings over the attitude of Speaker Uwajumogu led House, who he accused of uncooperative stance to his program.
The Governor reportedly expressed great disappointment on the part of the Members of the House for not only turning their backs on him at the crucial moment but failing to be part of his on going birthday programs.
A visibly worried Okorocha was said to have verbally challenged the Lawmakers on the 51st birthday and almost reprimanded some of his acolytes and trusted allies in the House for not pulling favourable strings within the Lawmakers’ fold for a birthday bash. It was learnt that the state Chief Executive Officer complained that the members of the state legislature were conspicuously absent during the Ibadan leg of the celebration and also failed to do any solidarity show, like congratulatory newspaper advertorials in national dailies and electronic media. The Governor further boxed the Lawmakers into a tight corner when he allegedly accused them of divided loyalty as they shunned his birthday events.
Worried by the Governor’s attacks, the Members are said to have concluded arrangements to hold a special session in honour of the Governor to avoid further wrath from Government House. Trumpeta was authoritatively informed that eulogizing the good works of the Governor would form part of the Special Session, where vibrant Speakers among the Lawmakers would be charged to celebrate the Governor’s achievements since he assumed duties in 2011.
Apart from the eloquent speeches that would come from selected Lawmakers, each of the Members is also expected to speak and advertise the good works of the Governor as well as placing congratulatory advertorials to herald the special birthday plenary session for Okorocha, scheduled for next week.
Top Imo Assembly sources disclosed that serious plans are on for a memorable special session in honour of the Governor, who may be invited as Special Guest for the event.
Meanwhile, despite a letter to the committee on screening of new members of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, headed by Hon Ngozi Ekeji to stop the screening of the new members, there are indications that they may be screened.
Trumpeta Assembly sources said the new members visited the Chamber yesterday for screening, which could not hold because of time.
It would be recalled that JTU Nnodim, SAN & Company had written Imo Assembly to stop the screening of the new appointees following a suit challenging the sack of the former members.
The letter addressed to the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly read in part “This is a matter which, with goodwill on all sides, should have been resolved out-of-court. Its pendency casts a shadow of illegitimacy on all the activities of the Government in relation to composition of ISIEC with a far-reaching implication for Local Government Administration”.
