Special Correspondent, WILFRED CHIMEREMEZE, reports from Abakaliki, on the leadership crisis rocking Ebonyi State House of Assembly and the impact of the development in the workings of the legislature.
With some uncertain developments in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, it is gradually but steadily losing the tenuous stability that had pervaded among its members in the last couple of years. Following the claims and counter-claims on the impeachment of its Speaker recently, the Assembly seems headed for more rancorous days ahead.
In 2011, Ikechukwu Nwankwo emerged the Speaker of the House, but was impeached shortly over what was termed “gross insubordination”. That was how Chukwuma Nwazunku emerged in his place.
In 2012, the Deputy Speaker, Val Okike, was also removed on allegations that bordered on dress code, among other things.
About three months ago, the Deputy Speaker (Blaise Orji, representing Afikpo North), Frank Onwe (representing Ohaukwu) and Eni Chima were suspended by the House under the leadership of Nwazunku.
The cat and mouse relationship in the House continued until about 6.30am of Monday, July 21, when 18 members of the House convened on the floor of the legislative chambers at Nkaliki and lifted the suspension order on the three aforementioned members, before going further to impeach Nwazunku.
The 18 members, thereafter, elected Mrs. Helen Nwaobashi, as the new Speaker, and pledged their readiness to support her to ensure greater development and progress of the House.
In her post-election speech, Nwaobashi accused Nwazunku of violation of oath of office and code of conduct, among others.
But Nwazunku described the action of the faction as illegal and unconstitutional, adding: “Their journey there is illegal. I still have the majority of the House. There is no impeachment. I have the mace.”
But harping on the legality of the exercise, a member, Enyi C. Enyi, said the action against Nwauzukwu took place when the House was on recess. According to him, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant sections of the House rules empower them to reconvene during recess, in a matter of urgent importance.
A source confided in TheNiche that the crisis in the House is another dimension of the struggle for the 2015 governorship election in which some political bigwigs from Izzi clan want power to return to Ebonyi North senatorial zone against the wish of Governor Martin Elechi who wants power shifted to Ebonyi South, in keeping with the ideals of the founding fathers.
The source added that Nwazunku was not in support of the Izzi power retention project; hence strategies were put in place to remove him.
The outcome of the political struggle is the emergence of two parallel camps in the House, with Nwaobashi and Nwazunku laying claims to authentic leadership of the House.
In the plenary presided over by Nwaobashi at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, 14 out of the 24 members dissolved all the standing committees of the House through a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Sam Nwali (Ikwo North) and seconded by Mrs. Lilian Igwe, representing Ivo Constituency.
On his part, embattled Nwazunku, in a session with newsmen, disclosed that the three members earlier suspended before the House went on recess had been recalled.
Reacting on the development, Chima (representing Afikpo South-West) said “the minority may have their say, but the majority will have their way”.
As a demonstration that intense lobbying was going on, the member representing Ohaozara East State constituency, Nnenna Nwene, who earlier alleged that she was attacked by thugs loyal to Nwazunku, reversed her claim. “I was not attacked by the Speaker’s men. I was rather deceived by the other group to stand against Nwazunku. He is a good man and I am with him,” she confessed.
In an interview, Oliver Nwachukwu (representing Abakaliki North) and his colleague, Vincent Nwibo (Izzi North) alleged that their signatures were forged in the list of the 18 lawmakers that impeached the Speaker. In fact, Nwachukwu threatened to consult his lawyer to institute legal action against the originators of the document that “impersonated” his name.
The series of crises rocking the Assembly deepened last week with the alleged kidnap of Nwali, at his Watchman Street, in Abakaliki, residence. Though, he was later released that same day, many saw the development as indication of the fact that the crisis in the Assembly has assumed a new dimension.
In his statement, Frank Onwe, representing Ohaukwu North State Constituency, said members of the House were shocked during their meeting with the governor. He asked the former Speaker if he had released the N120 million for members to pay up for their official vehicles, maintaining that Nwaobashi is the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, and that any other person parading himself as the Speaker is an impostor.
Nwazunku, however, denied the N120 million allegation. Even at that, government’s decision to keep mum on who is the authentic Speaker has remained a source of concern to observers of the unsettling situation. This is especially as it is recalled that at a recent function by the governor, security operatives ordered both Nwaobashi and Nwazunku to vacate the venue, to maintain law and order.
There are fears that until the government makes its position known on the matter, the crisis in the Assembly will linger.