Ohaneze Youth Council OYC, the apex socio-culture youth organization of Ndigbo at home and in the Diaspora, has described the invitation of the Publisher of Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper, Comrade Precious Nwadike, by the Imo State House of Assembly, in respect of the allegation that the member for Orlu State constituency, Hon Martin Ihezuo, diverted 65 bags of rice meant for his constituents, as disgusting, belittling and unlawful.
The group, in a statement it issued in respect of the invitation which has elicited mixed reactions from a cross section of Imolites, said, “the House acted in ignorance because it is populated by uninformed persons who, aside lacking capacity for logical reasoning, cannot strike a balance between the limits of their powers as legislators and those the judiciary and the executive. Hence, they abdicated their duties and responsibilities while dabbling into areas that don’t concern them.
The National President of OYC, Comrade Igboayaka .O. Igboayaka, while addressing newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State Capital recently, said, “our attention has been drawn to a letter of invitation dated June, 6, 2024 and addressed to the Publisher of Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper, Comrade Precious Nwadike by the Imo State House of Assembly in respect of the palliative for Orlu State constituency which were allegedly diverted by their lawmaker, Hon Ikenna Ihezuo”.
“It is not only undemocratic but also an aberration for the State House of Assembly to abandon its core legislative and oversight functions and reduce itself to the level of settling issues that border on the diversion of bags of rice meant for the constituents of their accused and allegedly culpable colleague”.
“This is nothing but the exhibition of idleness and political illiteracy by a bunch of uninformed people parading themselves as legislators and representatives of the people”.
“If Mr Ikenna Martin Ihezuo feels that his character has been defamed, the best thing for him to do is to seek redress in court. Even if he did not think in that direction, his colleagues ought to have advised him properly, instead of devoting a whole day to deliberate on how to draft a letter of invitation to a Publisher doing his legitimate business in line with the role conferred on him by section 20 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which permits the press to hold those in authority accountable to the people”.
“Besides it is a leader of Hon Ihezuo’s party, Chief Stanley Nwosu (Ochinanwata) that alerted Ndi Orlu of the allegation against Ihezuo, which Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper, published”.
Members of the House of Assembly were elected for legislative oversight functions, and making laws. They lack the power to punish law offenders or law breakers. Obviously, Imo State House members lack the knowledge of principle of Power and seperation of power between Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
“It’s verily humiliating to Ndi-Imo that Imo State House assembly is now handling Civil cases of brothers quarrelling over distribution of Rice, Tomatoes and Onions and others food items. This is how mediocres were flooded into Imo state house of Assembly on 18th March 2023 during the State House of Assembly election” Comrade Igboayaka frowned.
It is therefore necessary for WATCH DOG NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHER to ignore such summon that lacks democratic merit. The Imo House of Assembly should earnestly undergo legislative training to understand their oversight functions and stop embarrassing Imolites with letters of invitation on civil matters and withdraw such letter that mock our democracy and face their legislative duties, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka concluded”.
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