By Onyekachi Eze
Circumstances surrounding the inability of the Imo State House of Assembly members to carry out the reported impeachment plot on the Speaker and to a large extent the Chief Executive of the State are gradually unfolding with reports that the alleged oath-taking exercise the lawmakers were accused to have undergone to work in close relationship with the governor, is responsible.
Reports had gone wild in the public that the House members were involved in oath-taking scandal when a lawmaker who failed to be part of exercise opened up on what transpired and accused his colleagues of acts shrouded in secrecy.
The said exercise, was said to have been conducted at a popular and powerful prayer Ministry based in Elele River State, where they lawmakers were alleged to have agreed to work in unison with the governor to enable the number one citizen of the state guarantee them return tickets and flags of the APC party for higher positions.
One of the suspended lawmakers who was of the APC extraction had raised allegations that he was victimized for refusal to take part in the oath-taking exercise.
If anyone is waiting for the impeachment report targeted at Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Speaker, Acho Ihim, will be a mirage as the suspected oath-taking allegation rocking the members of the 8th House, 3rd Assembly may be perpetual hindrance till the end of this regime.
Few months ago, there was air of uncertainty hovering around the House of Assembly complex on whether or not, the State governor, Rochas Okorocha would be impeached by the 2nd tier of the state government.
The bubble burst when several attempts made by the State legislature to get the governor fulfill his alleged promise of fifty million naira (#50,000,000) to each of the 20 lawmakers that embarked on the Elele trip foiled, thereby creating disaffection.
A source close to the leadership of the House told Trumpeta in confidence, that, the lawmakers had staged several impeachment processes against Owelle Okorocha for their inability to book APC tickets, but can’t go further because of the implications of the alleged oath they reportedly took not to harm or take decision against the interest of the governor.
Trumpeta learnt that the lawmakers are in a fix on the next move. While majority of the APC lawmakers on the side of the governor are unhappy and itching to move against Speaker Acho Ihim, the PDP and APC members not enjoying the support of the state government are seeking for means to get their entitlements.
Further information has it that efforts by the lawmakers to form a synergy and push at Ihim and Okorocha have not yielded any fruit because of the oath allegiance that bars them from showcasing harm against the aforementioned persons.
One of the lawmakers who spoke to Trumpeta at the Assembly complex confirmed the development when added “we cannot act. Yes, there are plans, but we are hindered because of the agreement we had at Elele”.
Investigations by this newspaper revealed earlier attempts by the lawmakers to unseat Ihim for alleged high handedness, display of incompetency, especially on the part of instigating the governor against whoever he feels is not working for the enthronement of Uche Nwosu, as well as sheer display of power hubris in taking unilateral decisions about the affairs of the House that concern members without the consent of his colleagues. It was also learnt that the indifference approach of Ihim to welfare of his colleagues prompted the removal plot.
Trumpeta gathered that it was fear of being impeached that made Ihim adjourn the House plenary sessions at will to frustrate the plot to remove him.
