2019 ambition, betrayal, intrigues and cash were cumulative factors that led to division of members of the Imo State House of Assembly, this online news platform can reveal.
After the resignation of some principal officers last Tuesday,the House members still remain divided. 16 of them are in one camp and 11 are in another camp. It was the 11 lawmakers that showed up on the day of the last sitting which is a clear signal that Members are not on the same page any more.
This newspaper learnt that despite the resignation of the Majority Leader, Hon.Lugard Osuji and two other principal officers, there have been so much undercurrents among the House members.
It was gathered that the centre may no longer hold in the House again considering the level of distrust and betrayal that has crept in among them. What began like a united agenda later became a divisive point that is threatening the unity of House members.
The plan to stay away from the 2018 Budget presentation by Governor Okorocha on November 28 was said to be a unanimous decision of the House members but some how the plot was leaked by four members of the House who collected a paltry sum of one Million naria in return.
This is contrary to reports in the public domain that a particular lawmaker and a senior member of the House who is eying the Federal Reps seat of his constituency leaked the plot.
It would be recalled that members of the Imo State House of Assembly stayed away from the 2018 budget presentation by Governor Rochas Okorocha on November 28, 2017.
The State Government claimed that “discrepancies” found in the Budget speech was responsible for the non presentation of the Budget by the Governor. It later turned out to be a ruse as House members who were seen to be docile suddenly woke up from slumber to demand for their rights and query the certain actions of the Governor.
Reports said aside Constituency votes due to the lawmakers, they were furious the manner the second tranche of the bail out funds was managed by the Governor yet workers salaries were slashed and pensioners were groaning over non payment and issuance of dud cheques.
As if that was not enough, a fresh N880 million naria was alleged to have tricked into the State yet the House members were never informed about it.
This triggered anger among the lawmakers who now decided to “revolt” . Rather the plan was sabotaged by four House members who leaked the plot to impeach the Speaker and the Governor after they were threatened that they will not get return tickets.