From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa on Wednesday bared Journalists from covering the day’s plenary. No official reason was given for the action which also affected the general public.
Another drama played out at the Abia Assembly on Wednesday when the Speaker was alleged to have not only drafted security agents inside the chamber of the House, but also bared Journalists from covering proceedings at the Assembly.
This development made lawmakers elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party who perhaps sensed something sinister, to stage another walkout.
The member representing Obingwa West State Constituency, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, who spoke to Journalists outside the Assembly Complex, said this was the first time the Police and DSS officials, will be inside the chambers during plenary.
He said when they spotted the presence of the securitymen and the absence of pressmen, they became apprehensive and asked the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emeruwa, to inform the officers to excuse them.
Akpulonu said the PDP caucus in the House staged another walkout during plenary, to register their grievances instead of fighting, adding that they have also made efforts to advise the Speaker to do the right thing, but that it appears the Speaker is handicapped at the moment.
On whether the Governor Alex Otti was aware of the happenings at the Assembly, Akpulonu said he cannot claim to be ignorant, stressing that he had expected the Governor to call them together and resolve the issues at stake as the father of the state.
The 8th Abia House of Assembly, has seen the 11 PDP members in struggle with the member-LP over which party should produce the majority leader of the House.