New Assembly Speaker Peter Onwusanya
By Saharareporters, New York
Governor Uduaghan had last week plotted the impeachment of Mr. Ochei as the speaker of the house following what an impeccable lawmaker described as underground political feud between the governor and the speaker which resulted to the impeachment plot against the speaker, but along the line two options were given him by the governor to either tender his resignation or face impeachment music.
Mr. Ochei, it was reliably learnt had no option than to tender his resignation as demanded by the governor.
As early as 8am this morning, Nigeria time, an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), trucks of mobile policemen and other conventional security agencies were already stationed at the gate of the Assembly complex preventing people from gaining entrance into the complex.
Before the commencement of the installation of the new speaker, cohorts of Governor uduaghan led by Peoples Democratic Party State chairman, Peter Nwaoboshi, the Chief political Adviser to Governor Uduaghan, Ighoyota Amori and Faith Majemite an aide to the governor among others who were said to be the main actors in the forceful removal of the former speaker stormed the Assembly main chambers and were ushered in by some members.
Shortly after their arrival, the deputy speaker, Mr. Basil Ganagana, welcomed the governor’s cohorts and members to the installation ceremony where he read before the floor of the house the resignation letter of the former speaker.
Thereafter the majority leader of the house, Mr. Monday Igbuya, who was said to be one the executioners of Ochei’s impeachment, quickly moved for the acceptance of the former speaker’s resignation letter and was seconded by Mr. Martins Okonta, the house then unanimously adopted the letter.
The deputy majority leader, Mr. Johnson Erijo then moved for the nomination of Mr. Peter Onwusanya, representing, Oshimili South constituency as the new speaker which was seconded by Mr. Sam Obi representing Ika North East constituency and unanimously adopted by the house and the new speaker immediately took over the speaker’s seat.
Meanwhile, mild drama ensued during his acceptance speech as the new speaker, Mr. Onwusanya, who does not understand parliamentary protocols committed several blunders, thereby throwing members into uncontrollable laughter.
While thanking governor Uduaghan, PDP chair, Mr. Nwaoboshi, state PDP chairman and members for his installation, the new speaker, Mr. Onwusanya, however, stated that he will not forget in a hurry the kind of quality leadership in the immediate past speaker, Mr. Ochei, especially in the areas of stability, transparency and infrastructure.
It is unclear what will become Mr. Ochei’s fate as governorship candidate in view of the forceful removal from office. The speaker had been a favorite of the governor and jailed former governor of the state, James Ibori. Since becoming speaker, Mr. Ochei had been given choice power project contracts in the state that had made him extremely wealthy according to officials of the state.
Mr. Ochei was, however, absent during the installation of the new speaker today.
Delta Governor Uduaghan defies the Judiciary, swears in an illegitimate member of DTHA as Speaker
ReplyDeleteLet us recognise the judgment on HON. EMEKA OKONJI v. HON. PETER ONWUSANYA & ORS, (2014) LPELR-22191(CA)
http://www.lawpavilionplus.com/app/index.php/summary/judgments?suitno=CA.... “After due analysis, the appeal was allowed while the judgment of the trial court, per I.N. BUBA, J. was set aside. The suit was remitted to the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, for a re-assignment to another judge of that court, for a retrial de novo”. The implication of the Court of Appeal is that all the orders made by Justice . BUBA of the Federal High Court, Asaba was set aside including the validation of Peter Onwusanya’s victory at the PDP primaries. Now, a Trial de Novo ordered by the Appeal Court is a new trial which the entire case is presented as if there had been no previous trial meaning that the outcome of the previous trial is not considered. So in fairness, what judgment is Peter Onwusanya relying on to be a member of the DTHA?. All those who advised Governor Uduaghan on this illegal motive including the State Attorney General and the Clerk of the House should resign their appointments. This is certainly a gross disobedience of the rule of law. Let Onwusanya step down as Speaker to confront his case in court, thereafter if he wins he can then comeback as a member of the DTHA.
Odia Thomas
odiathomas@yahoo.com
Whomever led Peter Onwusanya to pursue his inordinate ambition to become the Speaker of Delta House of Assembly is the real architect of his emerging political doom. Inanycase, Onwusanya knew that he had an unsettled issue in the Appeal Court, Benin Division which dislodged him as a member of the State Assembly, yet he agreed to be thrust into the open for public riddle. Now many democratic activists are questioning the constitutionality behind his overdue reside in the House of Assembly and his disobedience of court order, both issues which are capable of sending him to jail. For now, history seems to be repeating itself on the infamous House of Representative Speaker Buhari’ Toronto’. Indeed, if Buhari never sought to be a Speaker of the House of Representative, nobody would have focused on his adequacies and he would have quietly completed his degree programme which in any case which was never a pre requisite condition for his post at the National assembly. So it is for Peter Onwusanya because without being made the Speaker of the DTHA, he would have silently stayed at the Delta House of Assembly and followed up his case to get a favourable judgment against the Appeal Court Judgment which terminated his status as a member of the DTHA. All these would not have been exposed. Now that it is public knowledge that Peter Onwusanya is known to be acting against the rule of law as an expired member of the DTHA, What next? The fate of Buhari ‘Toronto’ will soon be his too. I think it is best for Onwusanya is to honourably resign from the DTHA than being termed a criminal that may up end up in jail. This is just about “trouble dey sleep, Nyanga go wake am”.
ReplyDeleteFestus Elumeze
This narration is very sad. However, I think what should be the focus and target is a democracy that preserves the rule of law and separation of powers. The reprehensible disobedience of lawful order of an honourable court is an affront to the entire Nigerian Judiciary. I just hope that the Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan would see wisdom in quickly reversing his misguided decision to swear in a person whose legitimacy as member of the Delta State House of Assembly has been upturned by the Appellate Court. Justice has certainly been bruised in Delta state at its highest level and the State Governor has definitely committed a fundamental breach in his responsibilities. This issue if exposed to a higher level will not only be very embarrassing to the State government but would make a gross mess of Delta State legislators whose primary responsibility is to make laws, yet in this instance have acted as champions in the disobedience of a Court ruling. Indeed, the defiance of court orders by the executive government of Delta state and its legislative arm as exhibited in the inappropriate appointment of Mr. Peter Onwusanya , a non member of the Delta House of Assembly as Speaker undermines the judicial system and rule of law that the courts were created to protect and foster. In a proper democracy, a State Governor should not be caught in such messy trap. This is why Governor Uduaghan should let justice take its course because his action in swearing in Mr. Onwusanya is a serious injustice. Nevertheless, it may be possible that the Governor may not have been the architect of this misdeed, the blame should be rightly placed on the desk and shoulders of the State Attorney General because it is either that he is aware and in approval of such irregularity or incompetent and negligent. The state Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan should tow honourable course of action by insisting that both the State Attorney General and new unlawful Speaker should resign. Otherwise, such a government that disobeys Court orders cannot endure for long because the courts are the guardian of the constitution and disregard for court judgments will lead to complete lawlessness and breakdown of society.
ReplyDeleteStanley Ekwe
Stoko23@gmail.com