To douse tension that almost enveloped Imo State House of Assembly in recent times, several ad-hoc Committees have been established by the leadership of the House.
These ad-hoc Committees are different from the statutory standing Committees of the House entitled to perform several oversight functions as enshrined in the constitution.
It would be recalled that “bad blood” and “cold war” among some members heightened recently when some aggrieved members of the state legislature complained about the domineering maneuvers of a caucus working at cross purposes with the general interest and welfare of the entire members.
Trumpeta learnt that few lawmakers were accorded special recognition by the executive arm of the government prompting the Governor to take them to a recent overseas trip despite their chairmanship of a recent state and local government joint committee.
As the House resumed recently for continuation of plenary session, Members wore forlorn looks and expressed indignation why some “sacred cows” among them been enjoying the “common wealth”.
The vintage position of the “sacred cows” caused disaffection as the embittered lawmakers threatened fire and brimstone if they were not also considered in the scheme of things. While Bro Stan Dara was incharge of Roads, Simeon Iwunze took charge of Projects.
Alarmed by the impending doom which may make him and other principal officers casualties of a rebellion, Speaker Ben Uwajumogu acted fast by setting up ad-hoc Committees where the “abandoned” lawmakers are remembered.
In what looked like cabinet reshufflement, the Member Representing Owerri North, Dan Ikpeazu who seemed to have been on leave, was handed Chairman of Abandoned Projects while another silent lawmaker, Francis Ndunagu of Mbaitoli takes charge of CGC.
Also, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Chief Acho Ihim, who is reported not to be part of the “ruling class” in the Imo State Assembly alongside his Ohaji/Egbema colleague, Luke Chukwu were brought on board to supervise new 27 General Hospitals and Imo (Roche) Palm Plantation respectively.
While Stan Dara of Orsu Constituency remained untouchable in his Rural Road Projects Committee with Mike Ndubuaku of Orlu of Education Committee who maintained distribution of School Uniform/Desk/SUBEB Uncompleted Projects, Eudora Igwe of Ideato North is to be incharge of IGR.
The man representing Ikeduru, Chief Sam Daddy Anyanwu was not left out as he was handed the palm to palm project while including being principal officers, Donatus Ozoemena (Deputy Speaker) and Adaku Ihuoma (Majority Leader) merited NDDC and MDGS respectively.
Indications that the new ad-hoc Committees are settlement posts emerged when some of the new members who came on board to head Committees now wear with smiles and cheerful looks. The members radiating with smiles quickly moved into the Speaker’s office for post-plenary session discussion unlike in the past where they walked away and refuse to honour invitations in the Speaker’s officer.
Our Correspondent who monitored events last week when the House resumed noted that it was a “committee for settlement” as some lawmakers were included in five committees while others never merited.
Those considered to be at the losing end of the “settlement exercise” due to party lineage are the Minority Leader, Barr (Mrs) Ngozi Pat Ekeji, Hon Kingsley Dimaku and Dr Obioma Ekennia. Their sins for being left out in the “sharing formula” could not be ascertained but top Assembly sources disclosed that they are being persecuted and denied relevant welfare packages for their suspected non-conformist approach to affairs of the House.
Meanwhile, the 2013 August meeting has left in its trail a bitter war and acrimony between some women in Owerri and a member of Imo State House of Assembly.
The lawmaker (names withheld) was alleged to have issued a dud cheque of N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira) to the group ostensibly to aid plans to organize the annual women event. The Lawmaker who belongs to APGA or may have ran to the APC is known to be in the habit of avoiding his constituents and makes promises he can never fulfill.
This time, luck ran out on him as women in his constituency invited him and converged at a Civic Centre, along Egbu road, where they were graciously given cash gifts to celebrate the festival by other invitees.
According to an aggrieved member of the group, other donors gave cash, while those could not, made pledges, stressing that such pledges are being redeemed by the day.
She explained that the Lawmaker gave them a cheque which has bounced severally and despite entreaties to him to redeem his pledge, he has rather resorted to dodging antics and most times refuse from picking his calls. The lawmaker, who is said to have come on the firing range from his constituents, over his seeming aloofness to constituency matters in his constituency, has been embroiled in avoidable altercations with some of his constituents who frown at his one man show attitude.
Efforts by Trumpeta to speak to the lawmaker was futile, but one of his aides said the allegations are baseless, untrue and false.
