Improve or Resign, Ebonyi Group Tells State Assembly Speaker Odunwa

By Towncriernews 

Comrade Ben Nworie, a Journalist and Convener, Turn By Turn Initiative, has asked the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Moses Odunwa to sit up or resign his position because the law making process in the state has fall short of expectations.

Comrade Nworie who stated this in a complaint made available to journalists in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, added that will not cause any political crisis or bad blood in the state of the Speaker takes such decision. 

According to him, “Ebonyi state is yearning for good governance and development in all arms of government. I have analyzed the political developments in Ebonyi state, and passionately come to a conclusion that the state is “bereft” of an active leader, especially the legislative arm.”

He said the state House of Assembly seems to have crashed, from grace to grass since the Moses Odunwa emerged as Speaker

“I have no corruption allegations against him neither do I have grudges against him. The only thing I have discovered about him is that his political philosophy and disposition run contrary to the speakership position. He should have been better left as an ordinary House member.

“Since he emerged, it appears that life has been snuffed out of the Assembly. Is he stingy? Or he is not aware that his position is big enough to empower youths, bring succour around his people and supporters or is he claiming or displaying that Governor Francis Nwifuru is strangulating his “reign” economically.

“I have seen him at public functions severally and I never wished he is the Speaker of Ebonyi state House of Assembly. Doesn’t he listen to his aides or what. Politics is sweet if you are with the people”, Nworie observed 

He also noted: “No Government is popular without people seen and cluster around power holders. Speaker Odunwa own seems strange and different. What is really the problem? Is it not the same position that Nwifuru occupied and his aides and associates were more comfortable than government appointees? Including past speakers? Or are you shy and afraid of the Speakership position?.

If you doubt me, go to the Speaker’s lodge and do little comparison with the times of other speakers including the administration of the immediate past Speaker and now Governor, Francis Nwifuru. Then, the Speaker’s official residence was a solution centre. Supporters and party men and women come around to pay daily homage.

This is a total departure from that glorious moment. The Speaker’s official residence has been a ghost quarter. I don’t even know the last time the street leading to the Speaker’s lodge was swept. The ever busy front gate is deserted. Maybe no one bothers to pay a visit and trek back hungry or without any benefits. If it’s so, Speaker Odunwa needs some “orientation”. He maybe unknowingly painting the present administration in bad light. His colleagues are complaining. They didn’t report to me.

‘I don’t know whether the Speaker is not carrying them along or he is chopping alone or he is not representing them well. Ebonyi House of Assembly members are secretly grumbling and dying in silence, just because they don’t want to offend the Governor in any “impeachment move against the Speaker. 

However, even if Assembly members are not grumbling, the Ebonyi public are grumbling and would wish that another “vibrant and mobilizer” replaces him as the speaker to assist in the project of Ebonyi People’s Charter of Needs. Nwifuru can’t do this project alone in his one arm of government. But in this project, Mr Speaker’s wing is porous and leaking. 

“It is difficult to resign, I know but there are some of your past colleagues who don’t like to talk too much, like Chukwuma Nwazunku (English speaking issue) but they dish out money to people to cover up. That’s politics and that’s what people want.”

The Convener of Turn by Turn Initiative further observed that the Speaker has cut off link the media from activities in his office, pleaded with him to be part of good governance by cultivating good image and publicity of the Assembly under his watch.

“Sir, publicity is part of good governance.  As a senior journalist, I know how vibrant it used to be to cover weekly plenaries in Ebonyi State House of Assembly but such no longer exist and you are clearly not worried that Ebonyi State House of Assembly under your watch is” unpopular”. 

“I have some tips and recommendations for you. Be a listening and generous Speaker. Speak up! Did you hear me, Speak up. Your clear mandate is to speak. Speak up on issues, development and good governance. If you can’t speak for Ebonyi project, Resign! Speak on your bills. Speak on plenaries and proceedings. Speak on oversight functions. There are too much you can talk about.

“Most importantly our dear speaker, how close are you with your aides and boys if you have. In case if you don’t have, you need a professional protocol officer that must command you. Government is a structured system. This officer will coordinate your public appearance and activities with all the ingredients of charisma.

Finally, I am a journalist and activist. I am pained and worried, which motivated this piece. I decided to make it public so that if you’re busy to storm on it, someone will definitely bring your attention to it.

It’s my personal observations. Whether I am right or wrong, critically see the patriotic spirit in me. I don’t want sycophants to misunderstand me. I only want the best for my State”, Comrade Nworie concluded.