Governor Rochas Okorocha
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo. State yesterday for the second time shifted the inauguration of the new state House of Assembly from Tuesday to today, June 11, when a consensus could not be reached on his choice of Speaker for the state Assembly for the next four years.
It was learnt that majority of members- elects are kicking against any imposition as they have vowed to resist such attempt.
Based on what was gathered, the governor had wanted his close aide and former Deputy Chief of Staff, DCoS, Mr. Chinedu Offor from Onuimo state constituency in Okigwe senatorial zone to emerge Speaker, but majority of the members-elect feared that Offor's emergence would deny them a lot of benefits and possibly make them appear as rubber stamp to the governor.
Members-elect were said to be favourably disposed to the candidacy of Dr. Acho Ihim from Okigwe state constituency, who is equally a ranking member of the house.
One of the members-elect said the postponement of the inauguration was to enable Okorocha secure the loyalty of the majority of the members of the House to enable him get a Speaker he could truly trust and work with without fear.
However, there were fears that the incoming members of state House of Assembly may be rubber stamps to Governor Okorocha, following All Progressives Congress (APC) victory in 21 out of 27 state constituencies.
The source said: “So we decided to go for someone who would have independent mind and as well protect the interest of all members while working for robust development of the state.”
He expressed doubts about the inability of the governor's choice to work without being teleguided, specifically pointing at what occured at the state secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Owerri, where the governor allegedly stopped Hon. Ihim from giving vote of thanks on behalf of elected members, during the presentation of certificate of return to the governor and the 27 members-elect of the state Assembly.
It was reported that Ihim had stood up to give vote of thanks on behalf of his colleagues after the governor had spoken, but he was stopped by Okorocha, who instead, ordered Offor to do so on behalf of the 27 incoming members of the state Assembly.
As stated by the source, members-elect resolved after the INEC event to come together to checkmate any imposition on them, a development which did not down well with the governor, who had reportedly shifted the inauguration of the house “to gain more ground” to ensure Offor becomes the Speaker.
Ihim is the only ranking member from Okigwe zone, where the speakership has been zoned to, while the rest of the five members-elect, including Offor are debutants in the state legislative business.
However, those supporting Offor are banking on the fact that ranking, was not used in 2011, when the immediate past Speaker, Chief Ben Uwajumogu, a debutant was elected as the speaker.