By Jennifer John
The member representing Oguta State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Barr Frank Ugboma has said there was no going back on the demand for Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins to either or be impeached.
Ugboma posited that members were unanimous in making the demand, adding that about 22 members of the House have joined in the call for Chiji Collins to resign or be impeached.
Ugboma listed some of the ‘sins’ of the Speaker to include running the assembly like a sole proprietorship venture where only him takes decisions and handles the affairs.
He accused the speaker of failing to constitute the relevant committees, in line with the rules of the House.
He also accused the Speaker of ineptitude, saying the speaker’s ineptitude led to the infection of members with COVID- 19 as the conference microphones of the House could not be put in order for the fact that the committee whose responsibility it was to do the work was not empowered to function.
Ugboma further accused Collins of stifling every bill in the house meant to protect the interest of the masses and berated a situation where only executive bills were allowed to fly in the House.
He disclosed that the only non -Executive bill that has been passed in the House was the AJA Bill which he (Ugboma) dissipated much energy to push forward.
The lawmaker berated the Speaker for resorting to blackmail and dragging the name of the governor into the mess, instead of following the path of honour by resigning honourably.
He stated that the governor has not committed any infraction to warrant mooting any idea of impeachment against him, as alleged by the Speaker.
Ugboma described the speaker as an ingrate for calling Emeka Ihedioha names and dragging the name of the former governor into his travails.
He stated that Ihedioha personally influenced the election of Chiji Collins as Speaker, in consideration of equity.
Ugboma said; He called Okorocha names, has called Ihedioha names, he will also call Uzodimma names when the time comes.
“There are no crises in the House, all we have is agitation for Chiji Collins to resign because of his ineptitude, short-sightedness and embarrassing posture in the state assembly.
“He has committed several impeachable offences and everybody in the House is tired of him. He is no longer in control of the House”.
He also accused the embattled Speaker of frustrating the committee set up by the House to investigate the certificate forgery allegation levelled against him, even as he has failed to make his certificate available to the committee and the general public.
