In a bid to show his Honourable Colleagues made the right choice in electing him Speaker of Imo State House Of Assembly, Rt Honourable Chike Olemgbe has demonstrated uncommon maturity as he presided over the 1st Plenary Session of the 10th House.
After observing legislative protocols in the Chamber, Speaker Olemgbe announced names of Honourable Members for the remaining Principal positions of the House, as communicated in the letters by their political parties, as follows……
- Majority Leader —- Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi (APC), Member Representing Owerri-west State Constituency .
- Deputy Majority Leader —- Hon Chief Samuel Chidiebere Ogbunikpa (APC), Member Representing Okigwe State Constituency .
- Chief Whip —- Hon Chigozie Nwaneri (APC), Member Representing Oru-east State Constituency.
- Deputy Whip —- Hon Chief Eddy Obinna (APC), Member Representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency.
- Minority Leader —- Hon Modestus Osakwe (PDP), Member Representing Isu State Constituency.
- Deputy Minority Leader —- Hon Vitalis Ndubuisi Azodo (ACCORD), Member Representing Ideato South State Constituency.
Also, In a move to show the 10th House means business and there would be no dull moment, the Member Representing Nkwerre State Constituency, Hon Barrister Sir Chisom Ojukwu (Oyinatumba) moved the First Motion urging the House to adopt the 2019 Rules of Imo State House Of Assembly (As Amended) for the House business. The Motion entitled MOTION ON ADOPTION OF RULES OF IMO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY sort the continuation of the 2019 House Rules (As Amended) in the 10th House.
Hon Chisom Ojukwu pleaded that since the House cannot operate in a vacuum, and since there are procedures for summoning, business of the House, and due to attendant changes, there was need to continue with the Standing Orders and 2019 House Rules and put to use in the 10th House.
The Motion was seconded by Hon Barrister Ikenna Ihezue, Member Representing Orlu State Constituency. According to Hon Ikenna Ihezuo, “Every House is governed by rules. The 10th House is not an exception. I therefore support the Motion that the 2019 House Rules (As Amended) be adopted”.
When Speaker Chike Olemgbe put the Motion for adoption, it was unanimously adopted by Honourable Members, with no dissenting voice.
A Second Motion was moved by Hon Engr Sir Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie, the Member Representing Mbaitoli State Constituency. The Motion entitled “MOTION TO COMMEND THE STATE GOVERNOR FOR REINTRODUCTION OF THE MONTHLY ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION EXERCISE”. Moving the Motion, Hon Innocent Ikpamezie argued that Imo State was once the cleanest State in the country, and because health is wealth, good environment assures good health. He also stated that people develop all kinds of diseases without knowing how it came about.
He therefore expressed relief and happiness that His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma has given directive that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise be resumed, hence it was flagged off on Saturday, 24th June 2023. Hon Ikpamezie noted that it was a step in the right direction, as the monthly exercise would make the State more habitable for living, prevent pollution, reduce the number of disease causing organisms, as well as promote human health for the ultimate good of the people of the State.
Hon Ikpamezie further said that after the monthly clean up exercise, refuse and debris are usually dumped at various refuse dumps. He therefore called for immediate evacuation as quickly as possible, in order not to defeat the aim of the exercise, as initiated by His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Hon Innocent Ikpamezie therefore called on Honourable Members to support the Motion to commend Governor Hope Uzodimma and the agencies responsible for sanitation exercise, namely, the ENTRACO and the Imo State Waste Management Agency for the laudable move of reintroducing the monthly sanitation exercise.
The Motion was seconded by Hon Johnleoba Iheoha and co-sponsored by Hon Ugochukwu Obodo, Member Representing Owerri Municipal State Constituency and Hon Johnleoba Iheoha, Member Representing Ikeduru State Constituency.
In supporting the Motion, the Majority Leader, Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi, described it as wonderful, maintaining that ” Cleanliness is what you do for yourself. We thank the Governor for bringing back this exercise”.
For Hon Dominic Ezerioha, Member Representing Oru-west State Constituency, “I commend the mover of the Motion. In as much as the Governor has brought back the exercise, let it be spread to all the other 26 local government areas of the State”.
For Hon Worship Ebonine, Member Representing Njaba State Constituency, “It is for the benefit of all Imo Citizens”.
When Rt Honourable Chike Olemgbe put the Motion to vote, it was unanimously endorsed. Thereafter, the Speaker Ruled as follows, “Be it also resolved by this House to urge the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma CON, to direct the Managing Director of Imo State Waste Management Agency to ensure that the refuse heaps at the designated refuse collection sites are evacuated immediately after each monthly environmental sanitation exercise, so as not to defeat the aim of said exercise”.
The House adjourned to the 11th of July 2023.
Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
27/06/2023
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