By peter uzoma & ibezim samuel
Apparently dissatisfied with the manner the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is handling affairs between them and the executive arm of government, Members of the Imo State House of Assembly have vigorously refused to accede to certain demands of the Governor preferring a showdown.
Unlike in the past where the Members willy-nilly agree and make approvals for any of the Governor’s requests, yesterday was a different case in Imo State House of Assembly complex where Members openly exhibited anger and annoyance over the manner the Governor is relating with them in recent time.
The frosty relationship existing between the Lawmakers and the Governor nose-dived recently following reports that Okorocha is threatening to deal with any member not willing to be part of his APC political family. Consequently, the Governor changed gear by undertaking his functions without due regards and courtesy to the entire Members of the House.
What however blew the trouble open was Tuesday’s nomination of Transition Committee Chairmen of the various 27 LGAs in the state, sent to the state legislature by the Governor for confirmation and a fresh request for supplementary budget preceding the presentation of the 2014 budget.
Trouble started at the Executive session where the aggrieved members bared their minds concerning the ill-treatment being meted to them by the Governor who appointed the TC Chairmen without necessary inputs and consultations with the lawmakers. Apart from shouting on top of their voices to show resentment, the lawmakers vowed that the newly-appointed TC Chairmen will not be screened, adding that the necessary due process and regulations for appointment of TC Chairmen as enshrined in the law will be applied against the former pattern of accepting hook, line and sinker, any list of appointment from the Governor for appointment.
Another issue that pitched the lawmakers against the governor was the request for the passage of fresh supplementary budget. The House Members frowned at the request stating that it is against their wish to endorse further budgetary approvals after the four-year-rolling plan budget, 2013 budget and non review of the previous budgets.
The Members who arrived the new Assembly Complex early yesterday for the deliberation spent several hours for the marathon meeting at the Speaker’s office. Trumpeta learnt that verbal exchanges and abuses rented the air with disagreements shown on their faces which nearly almost led to fisticuff as few members sympathetic to the Governor almost got manhandled by their rampaging colleagues who were poised for a brawl.
According to our correspondent, most of the Members like that of Isiala Mbano, Ehime, Onuimo, Oru East, Aboh Mbaise, Ngor Okpala and Isu, suspected to have no hand in the nomination of the TC Chairmen expressed reservation about the names forwarded to the House.
Efforts by the Speaker to cage the aggrieved lawmakers proved abortive as most of them walked away from the Speaker’s office. Before, the discussion could end, the Minority Leader, Barr (Mrs) Ngozi Pat-Ekeji was spotted moving away from the complex, while others followed suit in anger.
The lawmakers threatened not to succumb to any threat by the Governor expressing that they may resort to impeachment to check Okorocha’s excesses.
A Member from Owerri Zone, (names withheld) was spotted telling his aides that “enough is enough from the Governor. We may not hesitate to use impeachment to call the governor to order and tell him that we are also elected by the people and has the constitutional rights to remove him if found incompetent”.
By that action, the Members failed to observe normal plenary session and vacated the complex.
Trumpeta further gathered that what may have prompted the reaction was the perceived liberation of the Members from the Governor’s jugular since majority declared intention not to join him in APC.
Meanwhile the Imo State House of Assembly committee on health has intervened on the crisis rocking the Imo State College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Amaigbo in Nwangele LGA of Imo state.
The House committee led by Hon Victor Mere stormed the health institution with journalists so as to meddle in the crisis and help resolve it for the smooth running of the school.
In hand to receive the committee was the Acting Provost of the College, Princess Ngozi Duru. The Acting Provost narrated her part of the story on the crisis of the school and what she has achieved for the past one year of heading the institution. According to her, trouble started when she vowed to sanitise the school and restore it to its dignity. It brought about the change of some Head of Departments that have occupied the position for more than ten (10) years with no fruitful result. Lecturers and Staff that are of retirement age were retired. That the affected ones vowed to make the institution ungovernable for her.
Again, her fight against examination malpractices, sexual harassment, extortion of students by lecturers and HOD’s, issuance of transcript by some departments with the management consent and giving of fake admission to prospective candidates are some of the problems that erupted the crisis.
Princess Duru explained to the committee that her major headache are the staff from Ministry of Health that are on secondment to the institution as they among other things, did instigate the students to rebel against the constituted management policies that would reform salary from both the Ministry of Health and the Institution even when many of them are due for retirement. Also, that they oppose her move to register the school with the National Board Technical Education (NBTE) so that their graduates would start going for her National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) as they have not been participating since year 2001. That the reason is that many of them belong to West Africa Health Education Board (WAHEB) and that the body does not go on National Service.
The Acting Provost showed the committee some of her projects that she embarked on for the development of the school which includes library renovation and furnishing, equipping of the laboratory after renovating it, borehole and electricity restoration, provision of Information Communication Technology (ICT), and staff room provision, among other things. She informed that the school will soon start going on service after connecting with NBTE.
The House Committee also had a meeting with the students and staff comprising academic and non academic, where they itemized their problems with the management.
Responding to their complaints, Hon Victor Mere said that the communication gap in the Institution caused the problem and that the House would ensure that the problems are properly handled. He confirmed that there are laudable projects in the school as they are physically present for all to see. He however, promised to look into the school fees issue so as not to pass wrong signal to the masses on Gov Okorocha’s free education scheme.
It would be recalled that the health school has been thrown in turmoil for months as students and staff are protesting against the management over their high-handed way of handling matters without consulting them. These various petitions against the Institution to the government and Imo House of Assembly caused the constituting of a committee to look into the matter. Hon Eudora Igwe and Hon Victor Ndunagu were also present as they are part of the committee.
