BY: CHIJIOKE ONUMAH
Members of Imo State House of Assembly Tuesday last week engaged in verbal debate on award of contracts and road construction in the State during the reign of outgone administration of Rochas Okorocha
Infact, the debate was intense t as members drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Action Alliance, AA, fiercely challenged each other.
The bone of contention was a motion sponsored by Hon.Eddy Obinna, (PDP, Aboh Mbaise) who wanted the Assembly to ascertain the circumstances on award of road contracts in the State from 2011 to 2019.
Presenting the motion, he argued that the purpose of the road construction carried out by the outgone administration has been roundly defeated because of the shoddy job on the roads.
He prayed the House to set up an Investigative Commitee to interface with the Ministry of Works to ascertain the companies and contractors awarded the contracts.
The motion was backed by Hon.Stainless Ekeledirichukwu Nnodimele (PDP, Orsu). She advocated an unbiased Commitee to look into the contracts, stating that the State cannot afford to retrogress anymore.
The motion was further supported by Hon.Paul Emeziem (Onuimo, PDP), who pointed out that none of the contracts were advertised as stipulated by law.
Lawmakers of the Action Alliance,AA strongly kicked against the motion taking on their PDP counterparts.
Leading the onslaught was Hon.Ngozi Obiefule (AA, Isu), who accused some of her colleagues in the ninth Assembly of with hunting the past administration.
According to her, she was part of the past government and she knew the condition of the roads in the State before Okorocha intervened, arguing that roads constructed since 2011 has stood the test of time.
She was supported by another AA lawmaker, Hon.Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba).
She argued that the House should not allow itself to be distracted advising Governor Ihedioha to award contracts on merit and not for parochial reasons.
After robust delibrations, the Speaker, Hon.Chiji Collins, constituted an and hoc committee to look into the issue.
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