Ahead of the May 29 inauguration, the Abia State Governor-elect, Alex Otti, has been warned against imposing a rubber stamp Speaker on the state House of Assembly.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Integrity Group urged all members-elect of the 8th State Assembly to ensure that the independence of the Assembly is not only paramount but remains the expectancy of the people of the state.
It noted that Otti must be held accountable for his government to guarantee speedy development and good governance in the state.
The group stated this in a statement signed by its President, Pastor Chris Ukpai, and Public Relations Officer, Chioma Emeruwa.
According to the statement: “The PDP Group has tracked down ongoing attempts to hijack and foist a rubber stamp Abia House of Assembly that will provide Alex Otti access to run Abia State like the way defunct Diamond Bank was handled.
“We have become more concerned about the backstage activities and clandestine networking of political hawks to impose a neophyte and novice as Speaker of 8th Assembly in other to ensure that the Governor Elect will not have difficulties with consents and approvals of Abia House through his novice Speaker for his intending excessive and outrageous external loans and grants from Chinese and Islamic banking institutions.”
The group urged the majority of PDP members-elect to form alliance with YPP and APC members-elect in picking Elder Erondu Jnr Erondu from Obingwa West, or Emmanuel Emeruwa, Aba South, who remains a “PDP member in spirit irrespective of winning with Labour Ticket.”
“We are aware why Mr Peter Obi’s performance in Anambra was superb was because the then Anambra State of Assembly was controlled by PDP majority with PDP Speaker, this is the beauty of democracy and we expect such scenario in Abia 8th Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa or Erondu Jnr is the best option for the position of the Speaker to achieve an independent House of Assembly devoid being rubber stamp as being galvanized by Alex Otti,” the statement added.