Abia House of Assembly Expresses Confidence in Governor Otti’s Administration, Challenges NLC to Provide Evidence of Alleged Bill to Tamper With LG Funds

Lawmakers of the Abia State House of Assembly have expressed confidence in the administration of Governor Alex Otti, OFR, and reassured of their continued support and solidarity to his administration.

The lawmakers equally challenged the Abia State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) to provide evidence of a bill in a letter they recently wrote to the House of Assembly, alleging that the State Government is planning to seize ninety percent (90%) of the Local Government allocations, leaving the LGAs with ten Percent (10%).

Addressing the press on Monday, 28th October after a closed-door meeting with the Governor which had members elected on the platforms of all political parties in the current 8th Assembly at Umuehim Nvosi, country home of the Governor in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa disclosed that they came to show solidarity to the Governor for his good programmes and policies in the State, commend and support him for the conduct of the November 2nd LGA election.

“We came to pay courtesy to the Governor and show solidarity of all policies and programmes that he is unleashing. We say unequivocally that we are in support of his efforts. You can see the house is almost complete both the opposition and members of the Labour party to give him that support. We don’t have a divided House”.

“We gave him support in the oncoming Local Government elections because, without a good local administration, we will not be complete. The House of Assembly is in Solidarity with him and in support that this Local Government election be done so that the grassroots will benefit in whatever we are doing,” the Speaker stated.

Rt. Hon. Emeruwa advised the electorates to go all out on Saturday, November 2nd, and vote for leaders of their choice irrespective of political parties. “We will not cage people to vote for one party. They should vote their conscience.”

Asked about the letter written by the Abia State Chapter of the NLC, alleging that the House is considering a bill that will empower the State Government to take 90 percent of Local Government funds, leaving the LGAs with just 10 percent.

The speaker said although the constitution empowers them to legislate on Local Government affairs, there is no such bill in consideration by the Abia State House of Assembly. He challenged the NLC to provide evidence. In his words “I Challenge them to produce evidence of what they wrote because you cannot say what you don’t know. There is nothing like that before of me, there is nothing like that. And, if we are making any new law regarding Local Governments, it’s our legitimate right and mandate because the constitution gives the House of Assembly right to oversight the Local Government.”

The Speaker also used the opportunity to condemn the action of the Federal Lawmaker representing Aba North and Aba South in the House of Representatives Hon. Alex Ikwechegh, who was recently seen in a widely circulated video on social media harassing a Uber Driver and went on to apologize on his behalf.

Also adding his voice, the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and spokesperson of the House, RT. Hon. Austin Okezie Mmerigini said that the primary essence of their visit is to reassure the Governor that the whole 8th Assembly is solidly behind him and to assure him that they are confident in what he is doing and that they will continue to support him.

The Lawmaker representing Ukwa East State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Obianyi Lewis elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) used the opportunity to call on his constituents and members of the public to participate in the November 2nd Local Government election. In his words, “As you can see, the House is peaceful, the House is moving forward and we just came to see the Governor. Of course, as members of the opposition, one thing we are taking home is that the Governor has assured us that he has mandated the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) to conduct free, fair, and credible elections. We, the members of PDP, are already participating in that election. So I’m also using this medium to let our people know that they should participate fully in the voting exercise.” Hon. Obianyi told the people not to give heed to any rumor of predetermined outcome of the LG ballot.

The Deputy Governor of the State, His Excellency Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu was part of the meeting.

Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
28-10-2024.