The Imo State House of Assembly has elected a new Speaker to lead the 9th House of Assembly in the person of Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibe, representing Obowo state constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly.
This followed the impeachment of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem of Onuimo state constituency in a House sitting of 19 members presided over by Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Chyna Amara Iwuanyanwu.
A motion for impeachment moved by the Hon. Member Representing Oru East state constituency Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri accusing the former Speaker of desecration of the Honorable House among other allegations considered as impeachable offenses was supported by the Majority Leader Rt. Hon. Kanyo Onyemaechi and 17 others.
The sitting, which had other members as the former Majority Leader Rt. Hon. Uche Ogbuagu representing Ikeduru state constituency, Rt. Hon. Uju Onwudiwe representing Njaba state constituency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Nduka representing Ehime-Mbano state constituency, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins representing Isiala Mbano state constituency and other members was properly constituted as the House of Assembly Mess, which is House of Assembly Symbol of authority was on hand to give the impeachment a legal backing.
Addressing journalists at the end of the house sitting the new Speaker Imo State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibe said that their action was to protect the sanctity of Imo State House of Assembly, which the former Speaker, Emeziem and his cohort were determined to desecrated and put up for sale.
He informed that by the collective will of Hon. Members, they have decided to start afresh and have resolved that in discharge of their duties, they shall put the utmost interest of the State first before self.
According to him, they have the responsibility to preserve the integrity of Imo State House of Assembly, even as he described what happened on 2nd November, 2021 where the Deputy Speaker was said to have been impeached as a charade.
He assured that as a Speaker, he is only a servant and will carry his colleagues along to ensure that henceforth, the State House of Assembly will be churning out good laws that will impact positively on the lives of Imo people.
The Speaker acknowledged the sterling qualities of the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma and described him “as a gift to the State”, noting that he is grounded in legislative matters and only needs a competent House of Assembly to help him move the Imo State to another level.
To achieve the above, the Speaker reiterated the resolve of the members to support the governor 100% and to put in their best to ensure a better Imo State.
Adding his voice, the Hon. member representing Ikeduru state constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ogbuagu described the activities of the ousted Paul Emeziem led administration of Imo House as “worrisome and despicable where if not checked will make the House a laughing stock to Imo people and Nigeria in general hence the urgent need for the change.”