Imo lawmakers threaten to impeach speaker
Members of the Imo State House of Assembly have threatened to impeach the speaker of the Assembly, Chief Acho Ihim, following what they tagged complicity on the current face-off between the executive and legislative arms.
The Daily Times recalls that the State lawmakers for the first time since the creation of the state in 1976 boycotted annual budget presentation by a sitting governor last Tuesday, November 28.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Sam Onwuemedo while reacting on the lawmakers budget presentation boycott said there were discrepancies uncovered in the 2018 budget billed for presentation.
But more facts emerged on the reasons why the state legislators boycotted the 2018 budget presentation by governor Okorocha.
Some of the lawmakers who spoke to The Daily Times alleged that the governor had not released a dime to them as constituency allowance since 2015.
They (lawmakers) noted the non-release of the constituency project funds to them had pitched them against their constituents as they are now seen as non-performers.
The lawmakers express worry over the way and manner the state governor had been spending the state funds by embarking on projects not captured in the 2017 budget.
The members of the state legislators further alleged that the state governor had embarked on ‘wasteful projects’ which had no impact on the lives of the people.
Some of the projects allegedly not captured in the 2017 budget include urban renewal, erection of Christmas flowers in Owerri, the state capital, and hosting of some African heads of state which was considered to be private affairs with state funds.
The state lawmakers also complained bitterly the disrespect by the Chief of staff, a son-in-law to governor Okorocha, Mr. Uche Nwosu on the speaker.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Marcel Ekwezuo dismissed the impeachment threat saying that the rumour has no basis. He said that the Speaker has a good working relationship with his colleagues.
Val Okara, Owerri
