Anthony Iwuoma
Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem, has insisted that the suspension of six members of the Assembly followed due process.
Emeziem told newsmen in Owerri, the state capital, that the suspension of the lawmakers was carried out in accordance with House rules and the Constitution.
The affected lawmakers were, Philip Ejiogu (PDP, Owerri North), Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise, PDP) Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru, APC), Dominic Ezerioha, (Oru West, APC) Kennedy Ibe (Obowo, APC), and Njoku ( Ihitte- Uboma, APC).
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According to Emeziem, the House under his watch would not tolerate any act that could bring it to ridicule.
Though he said the suspension was soft, he described it as adequate disciplinary measure against erring members as contained in the rules of the House.
The speaker said: “It is also our duty to run our affairs in the House of Assembly in such enabling way as to remain in synergy with the other arms of government in order to provide functional environment for the people.
“But in our observations and assessment, this good relationship has been, and remained until lately, especially immediately or even within the peak period of the insecurity in the state.
“Also, we have taken time to observe unnecessary insinuations by certain members, abuse on the personalities of fellow colleagues, autocratic demands of rights and privileges without references to the rules. Some members have even derailed from understanding the primary aim and objective that brought us in the House.
“The leadership, therefore, having examined the level tension already generated through the above unparliamentary behaviours and actions of certain members, decided to take soft but adequate disciplinary measures on them towards reinstating peace and progress in the House,” Emeziem said.
Furthermore, he said the House had set up an Appeal Committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu to consider any grievance or whatsoever with regard to the suspensions and other related matters.