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Impeachment plot against Imo speaker thickens

By Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
12 August 2015   |   4:25 am
FOLLOWING Governor Rochas Okorocha’s alleged non-payment of the welfare packages of Imo State House of Assembly members since their inauguration in June, the Speaker, Acho Ihim, may be ousted in the next few days except something urgent is done to placate the lawmakers.
OKOROCHA-OK

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha

• Imo begins IDPs verification
• Buhari’s wife visits state Friday 

FOLLOWING Governor Rochas Okorocha’s alleged non-payment of the welfare packages of Imo State House of Assembly members since their inauguration in June, the Speaker, Acho Ihim, may be ousted in the next few days except something urgent is done to placate the lawmakers.

The Guardian learnt that Ihim was being accused of not concentrating on his duties, which include the welfare of lawmakers and workers, but rather pursues a closer personal relationship with the executive arm. Governor Okorocha and the speaker, according to sources, were also alleged to have secretly travelled to the United States (U.S.) a few days ago for yet-to-be disclosed reasons.

The speaker’s media aide would rather not react to the issue, as his appointment was yet to be formalised. It was learnt that no fewer than 16 of the 27-member House are poised to pursue the speaker’s ouster if he continues to hobnob with the governor at the expense of members’ welfare even as such relationship could greatly threaten the independence of the legislature.

Ihim is an All Progressives Congress (APC) second term member. Imo verifies displaced persons In another development, the Imo State Government has directed the Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGs) to commence the verification and compilation of persons displaced by natural disasters in the 27 local councils.

The exercise is to enable state, federal and other agencies work out palliative measures for them. Secretary to the State Government, Jude Ejiogu, who gave the directive during a meeting with the DAGs on Monday in Owerri, also directed them to report their findings to the state government quickly.

Ejiugo further urged the DAGs to sensitise rural dwellers on such environmental issues as flooding and to stay alert over possible occurrences.

Aisha Buhari visits Imo Meanwhile, all is now set for Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s maiden visit to the state on Friday to kick off the 2015 August Meeting for women in various communities.

It is the first time she would be visiting Imo since her husband, Muhammadu Buhari, became President. The theme of this year’s August Meeting, according to the statement, is: “Dare to Dream: It is Possible.”

In a statement in Owerri, Governor Okorocha’s wife’s aide, Nkechi Ezirim, said the nation’s first lady would arrive the Sam Mbakwe International and Cargo Airport, Owerri, on Friday and be received by Imo women, led by the state’s first lady, Nkechi Okorocha.

She would then proceed to inaugurate a skills acquisition centre in Owerri North council, and some two-bedroom bungalows built by Mrs. Okorocha through her She Needs a Roof Project (SNARP), and later received at the Heroes Square, Owerri.

Mrs. Buhari will also visit the Imo Foundation Complex, where the cancer palliative and medical surgery centre is located, the statement added.

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