The All Progressives Congress, APC, Ebonyi State Chapter, on Friday, lambasted the Speaker of the State House Of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru.
In a statement sent to 9News Nigeria on Friday by the State Publicity Secretary, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, described the award on the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly as the best State Assembly Speaker in 2019 in Nigeria by the Champions Newspaper as a threat to democracy.
The statement added that Under the leadership of Mr Nwifuru, the legislative plume of Ebonyi State hurriedly became a platform for moonlight tales.
“There’s no how a Speaker who passes a state government budget proposal the same day it’s brought before the House into use could be the best of Speakers. Under the same Speaker, members who stood against tyranny and improper ways things were done in recent times were suspended and denied access to what’s due to them. What now makes him the best Speaker? “
The statement reads in full,
” We received the news of the award bestowed upon the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mr Francis Nwifuru as the best State Assembly Speaker in 2019 by the Champions Newspaper with great shock. We are shocked that a media firm not abreast with the happenings in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly could embellish its Speaker with a garland as the best performing Speaker.”
“Under the leadership of Mr Nwifuru, the legislative plume of Ebonyi State hurriedly became a platform for moonlight tales. There’s no how a Speaker who passes a state government budget proposal the same day it’s brought before the House into use could be the best of Speakers. Under the same Speaker, members who stood against tyranny and improper ways things were done in recent times were suspended and denied access to what’s due to them. What now makes him the best Speaker? “
“Under Speaker Nwifuru, proposals for projects that don’t have positive bearing on the people and State are given nod without due legislative scrutiny. Speaker Nwifuru couldn’t have been the best Speaker in the face of the fact that Ebonyi people address him as the Personal Assistant to the Governor of the State.”
“We, therefore, beseech Champions Newspaper to as a matter of conscience withdraw the award erroneously issued to the Speaker and apologize to Ebonyians for the undeserving insult. We also advise the press not to avail selves easy tools in the hands of desperate politicians who scout for publicity every line, hook and sinker for self aggrandizement. As the fourth estate of the realm, the press should at all times stand firm to represent the voice of the people and do the right things to give our democracy a pride of place.”
