Imo House of Assembly Speaker, Dr. Chiji Collins, at their last plenary Wednesday ordered the Honourable member representing Nkwerre state Constituency, Hon. Obinna Okwara out of the Chambers for sneezing repeatedly.
Okwara had been sneezing intermittently, with other members darting furtive glances at one another apparently wondering if they were safe.
At a point, the sneezing was distracting, if not disrupting proceedings with the attention of other parliamentarians now shifting to their sneezing colleague.
Mindful of the COVID-19 global emergency, the Speaker read the body language of legislators and ordered Hon. Obinna Okwara out of the Chambers to go and get himself together before returning to the chambers.
Ironically, Okwara who was not wearing any safety face mask, also continued sneezing after he left the Chambers. He thereafter headed to his office and did not rejoin the sitting again for the day’s proceedings.
It will be recalled that Tuesday, a legislator, Hon. Philip Ejiogu representing Owerri North, who just returned from the United Kingdom was also advised by Speaker Collins to stay away from the Assembly until he has concluded a mandatory 14-day self-isolation procedure.
But before the directive, he had been seen shaking and hugging colleagues after the election of the new Deputy Speaker and few other principal officers.
It is however noted that Hon. Philip Ejiogu has not attended legislative sitting since his last appearance.
