Nigeria, November 11, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
Having successfuly squandered a whooping N750 million on a jamboree training session which lasted for six weeks in Atlanta, Georgia., the Delta State House of Assembly at its resumed sitting on Tuesday, suspended the Chief Whip, Mrs. Pat Ajudua (Oshimili North Constituency)and former Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Johnson Erijo (Isoko South II Constituency) for three months, over alleged plot to overthrow the House leadership.
In what the House described as “desecration of the Hallowed Chamber” via a motion by the Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere (Isoko North), seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Festus Okoh (Ika South), it noted that “the sanctity of the House must be respected at all times.”
Nevertheless, the two suspended members were escorted out of the Assembly chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms following the voice ruling on the motion by the Speaker and was unanimously adopted.
The suspension of the two lawmakers came on the heels of the rumoured moves within the legislative system to unseat the Speaker, Hon Monday Igbuya, a claim that was however denied by persons in the Assembly very close to the Speaker but a dependable source revealed that the move to suspend the two members was done quickly to avert an impending impeachment of the Assembly Speaker, Hon Monday Igbuya and other principal officials.
Blank NEWS Online findings have revealed that former Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei is fingered in the alleged plot to unseat the House leadership but his interest remained unknown as at the time of filing this report.
According to the source, the former Speaker of the House, Hon. Victor Ochei, had during the Assembly members training in Atlanta, Georgia invited some lawmakers said to be his loyalist to his Philadelphia resident and lobbied them to change the House leadership.
”What happened today was as a result of a botched impeachment plan. Ochei invited some lawmakers to his Philadelphia resident during the Atlanta visit and that was where he lobbied our lawmakers to perfect a change in leadership. They also held other meetings in Atlanta.”
The source listed the lawmakers present at the meeting with Hon. Ochei to include, Hon. Peter Onwusanya, Hon. Ruben Izeze, Hon. Adophus Ojo, Hon. Angela Nwaka, and Hon. Azuka Azaka.
Others were, Hon. Samuel Mariere, Hon. Johnson Erijo, Hon. Pat Ajudua, and Hon. Denis Omovie
However, sensing that the impeachment was about to be moved on Tuesday, Igbuya and his loyalist quickly handed a suspension for insubordination to Hon. Erijo and Pat Ajudua. The source further added.
If the impeachment plot had sailed through, Marieri would have emerged Speaker, Onwusanya Deputy Speaker, while Erijo would have become the Majority Leader.
Meanwhile, the news of Mr. Erijo’s suspension was greeted with jubilation by the residents of his Isoko South II Constituency.
Earlier, in his welcome address to the resumed plenary, Igbuya thanked the members for actively participating in what he called “the first annual overseas lecture and vacation of the sixth assembly which took place at the Georgia Tech Students Centre, Atlanta Georgia” and expressed the hope that the experience garnered would enrich the lawmaking process in Delta State.
He expressed happiness at the victory of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, saying the state legislature was prepared to work harmoniously with the governor in actualising all his developmental agenda for the state.
“With the major tribunal issues out of the way, I adjure all of us to be more dedicated in carrying out the duties our constituents have empowered us to perform,” Igbuya said, adding, “In the next few days, before the Christmas holiday, our decisions and deliberations can define the direction of the state.”
He further said: “Therefore, we need to set our hearts on a greater purpose than our personal interests which is to lift the state to a higher estate. We must offer hope to our people in spite of the gloomy situation, we must have faith that with the help of God the Prosperity Agenda will be accomplished and we will work hard towards its actualisation because according to the scriptures faith without work is dead.”
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