Mudiaga Affe, Calabar

There are indications that the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr. John Gaul-Lebo, might be impeached following a crisis in the House.
It was gathered on Friday that majority of the lawmakers are aggrieved over the prolonged non-payment of welfare to members.

The bulk of the lawmakers had four days ago threatened to impeach the speaker.
The latest move will be the third time since assumption of office in June 2015 that the Speaker will be threatened with impeachment notice.

It was learnt that the majority of the legislators are piqued that after one year in office, they had yet to get their official cars, housing and wardrobe allowances as well as other entitlements.

One of the aggrieved members, who spoke anonymously, said his colleagues were also worried of the inability to sit and carry out constitutional duties due to lack of diesel and unavailability of office stationeries to run the legislature.

“Beyond all the grievances listed above, we do not sit regularly due to lack of electricity and office facilities to ease the business. It is a serious matter,” he said.

The source added that the civil servants in the Assembly were angry with the Speaker over plot to transfer some top officials for allegedly divulging the leadership’s financial transactions to other members of the House.

Another competent source told our correspondent that about 11 lawmakers, allegedly led by the Lawmaker representing Ikom 2 State Constituency, Mr. Simon Nkoro, are already shopping for signatures to make up 2/3 of the 25 lawmakers in the House in order to impeach the Speaker.

Most of the lawmaker said to be in support of the impeachment, according to the source further include members representing Calabar Municipality, Bakassi, Odukpani, Obudu, Akamkpa I and II and Calabar South II constituencies.

The source added that the aggrieved lawmakers and the leadership of the house have series of peace meetings with the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, and the party Chairman, Mr. Inok Edim, on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Reacting to the development, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Mr. Nelson Ofem, confirmed that there was “discontent” in the House.
He, however, said that no impeachment notice had been served the Speaker.

Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Azogor Ideba, said, “There is no problem in the house, a few members cannot just wake up and impeach the Speaker.”

It was learnt that the majority of the legislators are piqued that after one year in office, they had yet to get their official cars, housing and wardrobe allowances as well as other entitlements.

A state legislator receives about N6 million per annum, comprising basic salaries and other perquisites, according to a Daily Trust analysis based on records obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Most of these state governments have purchased brand new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for their lawmakers even though they still owe salaries and despite collecting bailout from the federal government last year.
Daily Trust findings revealed that the vehicles were mostly 2016 SUV models of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Escape Ford, as well as exotic Camry saloon, Hyundai and Peugeot brands.
States that have bought vehicles for their legislators include Kaduna, Niger, Kano, Imo, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kogi, Lagos, Sokoto, Kwara, Benue, Cross River and Katsina.


www.allafrica.com/stories/201605240945.html

goodvision12:
Today is my birthday show some love

Zico5:
I take a look at the structure of the party PDP and I ask myself if this is the kind of party some misguided individuals on nairaland want die for. Politics apart, we all know that something good and genuine can never come out of the party. The house that is built on false and fake foundation is PDP. Those that are supporting them know what they want and that is why there is trouble from the national headquarters to the local level. PDP is purely dead.

Sermwell:
why are you guyz always begging for love on this forum?

Eboski:
How about your mighty party APC?
What is their achievement so far over one year now.
make una no go die up top PDP matter o.

prinsam30:



Because their loved ones Dumped them for better lovers

WHOcarex:
He gave his opinion. Give yours or STFU

Zico5:
I take a look at the structure of the party PDP and I ask myself if this is the kind of party some misguided individuals on nairaland want die for. Politics apart, we all know that something good and genuine can never come out of the party. The house that is built on false and fake foundation is PDP. Those that are supporting them know what they want and that is why there is trouble from the national headquarters to the local level. PDP is purely dead.

TonyeBarcanista:

They always fight over selfish interest... SMH

fujirice:

Buh he just gave his own too na

Why throw the first stone when you live in a glass house

Zico5:
I take a look at the structure of the party PDP and I ask myself if this is the kind of party some misguided individuals on nairaland want die for. Politics apart, we all know that something good and genuine can never come out of the party. The house that is built on false and fake foundation is PDP. Those that are supporting them know what they want and that is why there is trouble from the national headquarters to the local level. PDP is purely dead.

goodvision12:
Today is my birthday show some love