Ebonyi Lawmakers Reverse Appointment Of 16 Perm- Sec, …They Are Ignorant Of The Law, State Govt

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Saturday, May 23rd, 2015

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Abakaliki – The crisis ridden- Ebonyi state House of Assembly on Friday, via a motion during its plenary announced the reversal of the recent appointment of 16 new permanent Secretaries by outgoing governor Martin Elechi.

African Examiner reports that the lawmakers, had also during the sitting, elected Chief Jerry Obasi, of the peoples Democratic party PDP, representing Ohaozara West constituency, as its new Deputy speaker,

Chief Obasi Odefa (PDP-Onicha East), had moved a motion calling for the reversal of the appointment of 16 new permanent secretaries by Governor Elechi .

In the motion, Odefa insisted that the appointment should be reversed by the incoming administration as it amounted to setting trap for the incoming government.

The legislator also moved another motion that the management of various boards in the state which tenure had expired should be sacked.

The House also adopted a motion moved by same Odefa, saying that the sack of the treasurer of Ezza South council Area by the Local Government Service Commission be reversed.

He had alleged that the treasurer was removed for refusing to sign a N14million cheque.

Reacting to the adoption of the motions, the Supervising Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Ike, described them as “ploy” by the lawmakers, to truncate the affairs of the executive.

He said: “There is no place in the world except Ebonyi where Permanent Secretaries and other set of public officers are expected to be screened by the Assembly.

“These set of lawmakers have shown that they are ignorant of the laws of the land.

“The issue of the timing of the appointment is also baseless as President Goodluck Jonathan and other state governors are presently making appointments with few days to the expiration of their tenures.

“These leaders are empowered by law to make such appointments provided they follow due process.

“Our lawmakers have vowed that they would oppose every policy of the government to achieve their selfish ambitions,” he said.

Ike said the outgoing governor, Martins Elechi, had left enduring legacies that could not be erased in the history of the state despite the antics of the lawmakers. He stated

Meanwhile, The new Deputy speaker replaces Chief Blaise Orji, who was impeached by his colleagues for alleged misconduct.

Chief Whip, of the House Ogbonnaya Ikoro, who moved motion for Obasi’s election during the plenary, stated that the House needed to fill the vacuum created by Orji’s sack.

He said:”This House needs to move forward and effectively conclude its tenure; a situation which makes the election of a new deputy speaker imperative,”

The motion was however, supported by the member representing Izzi West state constituency, Ogbonna Nwifuru (PDP) and it was adopted through a voice vote.