My attention has been drawn to a front page report in the TRUMPETA newspaper August 11, 2015 titled ‘Plot To Impeach Imo Speaker Begins.’ The news report informed the public that the plot to impeach Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim, who was inaugurated Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly exactly two months ago, has already begun. The only reason for which the lawmakers wanted Ihim removed, was welfare of the honourable members.

This piece is not in any way to beg the lawmakers not to impeach Hon Ihim. Neither is it a platform to encourage them to execute their plot. No. The lawmakers were elected by their respective constituents for three main purposes, namely: Lawmaking, appropriation and oversight.

In June, they were formally inaugurated; and in turn, they elected Ihim as speaker. It is, therefore, expected that within the last two months, they would have become conversant with their various legislative assignments, as represented in the many committees set-up by the speaker, Ihim. Also, one would have expected them to have passed some bills and motions. One would have expected the House Committee Chairman on Information to be briefing the press periodically on the activities of the present assembly. The people of Imo State are yet to see any of these. Rather, what we are witnessing are plots to impeach Ihim, on issues that have to do with the welfare of lawmakers.

Honestly, I dey laugh. I still dey laugh. Tears don comot for my eyes.

Two weeks ago, Imo workers went on a five-day warning strike over non-payment of their many months of salaries. I had expected our lawmakers to have reacted by asking the Rochas Okorocha-led government to expedite action towards payment of salaries to these civil servants. This is an oversight function of the lawmakers. I had expected the lawmakers to sympathise with civil servants over the non-payment of salaries and, in fact, summon the Accountant General of the State to appear before a Special committee to explain why civil servants have not been paid these past months. One had expected these lawmakers to plead with civil servants to return to work. Instead, they rather chose to keep quiet, only for them to start initiating plans to impeach the head of the legislative arm of government over ‘negligence’ of their own welfare. Too Bad! This attitude has obviously made our legislators to appear cheap, greedy, selfish, and nonchalant to the plight of Imo civil servants.

Also, I know that Ihim is not the candidate of Governor Okorocha for the speakership position. The governor reportedly wanted Hon Chinedu Offor as speaker. But this desire could not sail through. Conversely, could this impeachment plot be the handiwork of Okorocha so that he could eventually install Chinedu Offor? Could the governor have deliberately withheld the welfare packages of lawmakers so as to incite them against Ihim? Somebody, please, tell me.

Let me, at this point, advise Imo lawmakers to be very cautious. It is too early in the day for them to dance naked in the market square. The lawmakers should rather pass a motion urging the State Government to release their welfare packages without further delay. Also, they should pass another motion urging the State Government to pay outstanding arrears of salaries owed Imo workers, without further delay.

To Hon Ihim: I am urging him to be proactive by engaging the executive arm of government in a healthy discussion on how to facilitate the release of the packages of his colleagues without further delay.

Finally, the Imo Speaker should ensure that senior aides of the immediate past speaker are not under any guise retained by him, (I accused them of being shamelessly corrupt). The Imo State House of Assembly does not have the capacity to challenge me and, as such, will not be able to contend with my reactions, if Ihim continues to ignore this appeal.

I rest my pen.

•Citizen Iwuoha was former Senior Special Assistant on Media, and immediate past Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Imo State House of Assembly. Photo shows Imo Speaker, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim.

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