The national speaker, Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), Rt.Hon. Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel yesterday at the National Assembly, Abuja told newsmen that All activities of the Imo State eighth (8th) Assembly after the resignation of Rt. Hon (Dr.) Acho Ihim as speaker on May 28, 2019 have been a mere ruse, a nullity and a stratagem to deceive Imo people and the general public.
YAN speaker said: “Mr. Chinedu Offor, the former member representing Onuimo state constituency in Imo State House of Assembly was simply a common impostor struggling at all costs to deceive not only himself, the good people of Onuimo Local Government area, Imo State but also the general public noting that Chinedu was never and could never be a Speaker of the Imo State 8th Assembly house that wound up the moment Rt. Hon Acho Ihim resigned his position as the Speaker.”
Godstime in his interview with journalists stated: “It is baffling to believe that somebody who calls himself an honourable member could stoop so low as to the level of self deceit and self hallucinations over a nonexistent and elusive fantasy called another Speaker of 8th Assembly.
For the avoidance of doubt, section 4 of the Rules of Imo State House of Assembly, 2015 (As Amended) which says:
“No member of this House shall be qualified to be elected as a presiding officer(s) (Speaker and Deputy Speaker) unless he or she has been a member of a previous house before the one for which he or she wants to stand for election as a presiding officer” is clear on this issue.
“Chinedu Offor, the former member representing Onuimo State constituency and Chika Madumere, who represented the Nkwerre state constituency during the 8th Assembly who were not members of any of the 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd or 1st assembly were ab initio not qualified to be elected as a presiding officer(s); (Speaker and Deputy Speaker) within or during the life span era of the 8th Assembly.
“Ordinarily, the use of the auxiliary verb ‘shall’ in the section means that the stipulated qualification for becoming Speaker of the 8th Assembly, 9th Assembly, etc before the ranking order rule is vacated is not negotiable and cannot be toyed with.
“Chinedu Offor and Chika Madumere of course knew these but chose to be part of the rule breakers. It was partly as a result of this provision that led to Honourable Lawman Duruji, (the Honourable member representing Ehime Mbano state constituency’s) quick walk away from the illegality of becoming an unlawful Speaker.
“He bluntly refused to be part of any ensuing unconstitutional activity(ies) of a band of honourable members without a speaker because no substantive Speaker led the house to vacate the ranking order rule of the house.
“Again, it is on record that the caricature inauguration of the impostor Speaker and his Deputy were never done with original mace of Imo state House of Assembly which has been with Hon Lawman Duruji since the resignation of the true Speaker.
“If indeed Mr. Chinedu Offor and his pocketful minority 8th assembly members (less than 6 in number) were law abiding, they would have sought for any lawful means of vacating the ranking order rule of the house and “adopt conventionally” the fake carved log of wood which they used as mace of the house.
“The subterfuge publication “Rt.Hon Chinedu Offor Made Us Proud As Speaker – Imo Lawmakers, Say They Wished He Was Speaker Long Before Now, As The 8th Assembly Winds Up” is puerile, laughable and a mockery on the intelligence of wise and right thinking Imolites who are aware that the 8th Imo House of Assembly have no other Speaker except Rt. Hon Acho Ihim under whose leadership, Imo state House of Assembly broke enviable record of Legislative achievements, Hon.Godstime reaffirmed.”
The Youth Assembly of Nigeria speaker enjoined the good people of Imo state “to discountenance Mr. Chinedu Offor and Chika Madumere on their deceitful exercise in futility as a team of lawyers in the Legal department of Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), Imo state chapter are in readiness to sue Mr. Chinedu and Co for impersonation.”
