The Speaker, Imo House of Assembly, Kennedy Ibeh said that the three lawmakers that were suspended on Thursday had to be punished because they abandoned state assignments for personal business. Ibeh also stated that the house had
declared the seat of Ngor-Okpala constituency vacant on grounds of absenteeism.
The speaker said that “The suspension is to serve as a deterrent for the dereliction of duty by members who take the business of the parliament for granted,” in Owerri on Friday.
Members of the house suspended Arthur Egwim (APC-Ideato North), Ngozi Obiefule (APC-Isu), and Obinna Okwara (APC-Nkwerre).
Ibeh explained that the trio absented themselves from the plenary session specifically arranged to expedite a perusal of the state’s 2022 budget estimates.
“The suspended members acted dishonourably by disregarding the resolution of the house to which they themselves gave nod and willingly committed themselves.
“Owing to the importance of the 2022 Appropriation Bill presented to the house on Dec,17,2022 by Governor Hope Uzodinma, the house unanimously decided to interface with Ministries Departments and Parastatals within three days,” he stated.
The speaker added that the decision of the national assembly was to allow for a quick passage of the bill, which required full participation and intelligent contributions by all members.
Ibeh stated that unfortunately, the suspended members disregarded an urgent state assignment to pursue their private businesses.
The speaker also debunked claims of favouritism making the rounds in the state. He said “It is therefore frivolous and spurious for any of the affected members to bandy around the falsehood that he was suspended for attending burial ceremony.
“This claim becomes so spurious especially as not all the members who attended the said funeral were affected by the suspension,’’ he stated.
In another development, The house also declared the seat of Ngor-Okpala constituency vacant.
The speaker explained that the representative of Ngor-Okpala constituency, Tochi Okereke, had absented himself from proceedings for more than one-third of the sessions of the house since its inauguration in 2019.
He said declaring the constituency seat vacant was constitutional.
“Following a motion moved by the member representing Ideato South, the house went into full debate on the merits of the motion, the majority urged that the Ngor-Okpala constituency seat be declared vacant, owing to absenteeism,” (sic) he added.
The speaker stressed that leadership of the assembly had made it clear that it would put the interest of Imo people first before any other interest.
(NAN)
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