APC chieftain urges Akwa Ibom Assembly Speaker to reverse decision on lawmakers
Eseme Eyiboh
Chairman, Board of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, Mr. Eseme Eyibo, has advised Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Onofok Luke, to rescind his decision on vacating the members of All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the House.
Eyibo, who gave this admonition during a press conference in Uyo, the state capital yesterday, said such was the only quick solution to the lingering crisis in the Assembly.
He said the Speaker acted in error and also faulted him for declaring the seats of the other four lawmakers vacant even when judgment was yet to be passed on their cases, adding that such action amounted to a rape on democracy as the legislature remained the mother of democracy.
“The Speaker should have been able to separate activism from lawmaking and by allowing himself to be influenced by Governor Udom Emmanuel in that matter meant that there is actually no guarantee of the independence of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
He alleged that the governor was merely trying to intimidate and discourage other lawmakers who want to defect to the APC by influencing the Speaker into taking an unpopular and unlawful decision and denying the APC lawmakers of their entitlements and privileges in the House.
Eyibo further faulted Emmanuel’s visit to the Assembly and accused him of misusing the talents of the youths of the state.
“It was wrong for the governor to use his instincts. It is also wrong for him to use youths who ought to be in schools to attack our lawmakers and while he is complaining of Warsaw war, he should also remember his threat to unleash Akwa Ibom youths on Ita Enang after he participated in a radio programme,” he added.
