By Cajetan Mmuta
It was endless praises for President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Willie Obiano as lawmakers in Anambra state House of Assembly took turns to appreciate them for their efforts that paved the way for listing the state among oil-bearing states in the country.
Leading the lawmakers during the commendation on the nation’s leaders at the resumed plenary on Tuesday was the Majority leader of the house, Hon. Nnamdi Okafor
Okafor said that the inclusion of the state as an oil-producing state would help shore up her revenue base and also boosts her economy and growth
Members of the seventh Assembly of the house had resumed sitting after their six-week break.
This is as the bill for a law against Open Grazing and other related matters on Tuesday passed through first reading at the State House of Assembly.
The executive bill was presented to members of the seventh Assembly house on resumption after weeks of a break by the Majority Leader Hon. Nnamdi Okafor.
Speaking on the Matter of Public Importance, Hon Okafor stated that the recent inclusion of the state among the country’s oil-producing state was the best thing to happen to the Light of the nation-state, and happened I see the eventful achievements of the Willie Obiano led administration.
Also, Hon. Lawrence Ezeudu representing the Dunukofia constituency, commended President Buhari, ex-President Jonathan, and Governor Obiano for their significant roles that lead to the inclusion of the state among oil-producing states.
He appealed that urgent steps should be taken to enact appropriate laws that would protect the state, especially the communities where the oil production would take from any negative effects.
On his part, members representing Awka-North, Anambra East, and, Ogbaru 11, Oyi constituencies, Hons John Nwokoye, Obinna Emenanka, Somtochukwu Udeze, Charles Obimma respectively, described the feat as “great”
They urged that whatever revenue that would accrue to the state as an oil-producing state should be invested into “agricultural development” to further bolster the development and employment generation of the state.
“When this additional income starts coming, we (Anambra state Assembly) shall make a law that no kobo received by the state from the 13 percent derivation reserved for oil-producing states shall be spent except in agriculture, so that by the time oil becomes valueless our people shall continue to feed”, Obimma stated for instance.”
According to Nwokoye, “.Most of the host communities in our state are essentially agricultural communities; for instance, Awka-North, Anambra East, Anambra-West, Oyi, and Ogbaru. When the oil companies begin drilling oil, there will be oil spillage, so the fish in the river will be affected, all our farms will be affected. So there is need to make appropriate laws to protect these communities to avoid youth restiveness like in the Niger Delta”.
An only female lawmaker out of the 30-member state assembly, Hon. Nkemdiche Ikpeazu while extending gratitude to the state government and others for the new dawn in the state, said that listing Anambra state with oil status would strengthen her revenue.
She expressed disappointment that her constituency, Onitsha-South shares border with the oil communities of Oyi and Ogbaru, yet it was not included among the host communities that would benefit from the thirteen percent meant for host communities.
However, the bill would be read for the second time in the house today (Thursday) during the house processing.
Also, four out of the six lawmakers elected under the umbrella of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who recently defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) officially announced their defection before other members of the house.
The announcement of the defection had sparked tension in the hallowed chamber of the house but the quick intervention of Speaker Okafor saves the tense situation.
The house during the plenary presided by Speaker Rt. Hon Uchenna Okafor commended Governor Willie Obiano for working assiduously towards the federal Government’s final approval and enlisting of Anambra State among oil-producing states in the country which amongst others were part of the various outstanding achievements of the APGA led administration in the state.
The lawmakers noted that the positive achievement of the state governor, especially, the inclusion of the state among oil-bearing states in the country would further shore up the revenue base and bring about increased development, growth, and welfare of people of the Light of the Nation-state.
At the end of the presentation of the anti-grazing bill and motions, Speaker Uchenna Okafor said, “Open Grazing of Cattle and Other livestock Prohibition and Ranching Establishment bill 202, Anambra state passes first reading and taken.”
The four defected lawmakers led by Hon Timothy Ifedioramma representing Njikoka 1 state Constituency explained that they defected to APC because of the leadership crisis n APGA, pointing out that there have been several litigations over the candidacy and leadership of the party.
Messrs Lawrence Ezeudu of Dunukofia, Carter Dike (Aguata1), Nnonso Smarth Okafor of Nnewi North told the house that in line with the provisions of the Construction Section 109 subsection 1 that in the event of crisis over leadership, a member is free to join another party.
But the Majority leader, Hon Nnamdi Okafor posited that there is no leadership crisis in APGA, stressing that the only name with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC? as National chairman of the party is Chief Victor Oyeh and no one else and that the party has one candidate for the November 6 Governorship poll in the state.
He said, “We must correct this wrong impression about our party APGA which our colleagues are making because it goes to send wrong information to the general public”.
Shortly after the sitting, Hon. Timothy Ifedioramma in an interview with newsmen faulted what the Majority Leader said on the floor of the house describing it as a move to protect his job in the Assembly.
Be said it was common knowledge that APGA is factionalized even as he denied that the sum of N250 million was given to the six lawmakers by Sen Andy Uba to defect to the APC.
Anti open grazing: Anambra House of Assembly passes first reading
The lawmakers pointed out that APGA failed to manage its success which led to the crisis in the party.
“We did not collect money from Andy Uba to Join the APC and we have heard that we were given N250 million some said N150 million and some said it is N500 million but I want to make it clear here that we did not collect any money.”
Everybody has the right and freedom of association and you cannot force anyone to belong to a particular group or Political party and even the APGA Reconciliation Committee led by former National chairman Sen Victor Umeh could not help matters.
“We were invited by the committee and we made our points clear and the committee said that they would invite us again and up till now we heard nothing from them so as it stands now we are members of the APC and if care is not taken more members would join the APC before the election; he declared.
