PRESS RELEASE

ATTEMPT TO IMPEACH CROSS RIVER HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SPEAKER BASELESS

Following recent media reports/speculations of an attempt to impeach the Cross River State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon John Gaul Lebo particularly on the heels of non- payment of welfare emoluments to members of the Housewives of Assembly and sundry issues, I wish to state the following:

1. The Speaker is not under any threat of impeachment by his colleagues, however it was obvious from the executive session held last week that there was discontent among members over their welfare issues resulting from the non- payment of their quarterly oversight and Aides allowances in the last one year.

2. Due to the discontent, the Speaker facilitated a meeting with the Deputy Governor and later the Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party Cross River State within the week.

The members in that meeting unanimously agreed that their concern is about the non- payment of their furniture, quarterly oversight and Aides allowances in the last one year.

They also complained about lack of official vehicles one year on.

3. It was agreed that the Governor will meet with the members next week to resolve the issues raised by them and the Deputy Governor had promised to facilitate the meeting.

The House thereafter resumed sitting and passed a Bill into Law and deliberated on 3 requests from the Governor which the House passed the relevant Resolutions.

4. Worthy of note is that in one year, the Speaker has led the House to propose over 39 private Member Bills of which 18 Bills have been passed into Law, while the rest are pending, thereby, making the Cross River State House of Assembly one of the best in the country alongside Lagos state House of Assembly.

5. With regards to all the welfare issues, payments and official vehicles complained about by the members, the Speaker is also affected.

This is the first Speaker who resides with the members in the same quarters; in fact he is still occupying the same house that was allocated to him in his first term as a member.

6. It should be stated here that the Speaker is yet to receive his official cars one year after, and is currently using his private vehicle as official car. This is in solidarity with his colleagues who are yet to get their official cars.

7. Although Hon members have the right to express their grievances but that does not translate into impeaching the Speaker who is not responsible for whatever grievances expressed by Hon members.

8. The Speaker is sensitive to the plight of members; and to the best of his abilities has been making relentless efforts to ensure that members of the Assembly got what is due to them.

9. The Speaker Rt. Hon John Gaul Lebo has not committed any impeachable offence since he assumed leadership save for mischievous and desperate politicians who would give a dog a bad name to hang it.

On the account of the foregoing therefore, I wish to state categorically that the purported attempt to impeach the Speaker is baseless and unfounded as the Speaker since assumption of office has been going about his duties legitimately.

Cross River State House of Assembly is not the only House of Assembly in the country where members are unhappy about their welfare entitlement due to the economic downturn in the country.

The Speaker enjoys the full support of the House of Assembly and this is evident in the response of members to plenary and committee meetings.

Hon members are advised to remain calm as issues affecting their welfare would be sorted out in the nearest possible time and also they should understand that the House of Assembly does not have financial autonomy but only at the mercy of the Executive hence should understand the constraints or limitations of both the House and its leadership.

Signed
Azogor Ideba
Chief Press Secretary to Hon Speaker
Cross River State House of Asse