From Steve Oko, Umuahia
As more reactions continue to trail Senator Smart Adeyemi’s outburst against Gov Okezie Ikpeazu on the floor of the Senate, Senator Theodore Orji representing Abia Central has vowed that nothing short of public apology both to the Governor, and Abians would save the Kogi West senator from the wrath of Abians.
Similarly, Hon Uko Nkole representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, has petitioned the Senate President against the “unbecoming attitude” of Adeyemi which he described as an insult on all Abians.
This is as a major construction firm in the state, ECKLEEN INTEGRATED SERVICES, has dismissed Adeyemi’s allegation of non-performance against Gov Ikpeazu as “wild and unsubstantiated”.
Senator Adeyemi, had during the senate plenary session on Monday, described Governor Ikpeazu as a “drunkard”, adding that ” Abia is ruled by drunkards”.
Senator Orji in a press statement by his Chief Liason Officer, Ifeanyi Umere demanded that : “Smart Adeyemi extends his apology to All Abians who elected Governor Okezie Ikpeazu back to back on two consecutive tenures as Governor of Abia state, an office Smart Adeyemi has never occupied or sought to occupy as to know or feel the enormity of dignity and carriage which the office of the Governor conveys on a governor.
“Abians have been scorned in the face, and Senator Smart Adeyemi must crawl on his knees in utmost penitence and confession to court the forgiveness of all Abians for daring to insult Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, a man with whom Abians are well pleased”, the former governor fumed.
ECKLEEN construction firm said it had handled a number of notable projects in the state awarded by Gov Ikpeazu, describing him as one of the few governors in the country that have made incontrovertible mark in infrastructural development.
In a statement by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Uzoma Onuoha noted that his company alone had completed about 13 road Projects under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and currently working on nine new roads.
Onuoha wondered why Senator Adeyemi should make such disparaging vituperations against a performing governor.
He advised politicians against unguarded uttrances just to score cheap political points.
Nkole said Adeyemi’s vituperation against Gov. Ikpeazu was misdirected and an insult on all Abians.
Rep Nkole in a statement he personally signed, said: “As a serving Member of the National Assembly from Abia State, I have gone through all our Parliamentary Rule Books and I cannot find any rule that permits Senator Adeyemi to use the hallowed Chambers of the National Assembly to, in a such brazen manner, propagate hate speech on persons no matter how lowly or highly placed in the society.
“I must quickly remind Senator Smart that no court of law has convicted nor fined Governor Okezie Ikpeazu over drunkenness. Neither has the Abia State House Of Assembly, the body with statutory oversight over Governor Ikpeazu, at any point in time, found him to be a drunk that ordinarily would have necessitated such undistinguished vituperation by Senator Adeyemi.
“Governor Ikpeazu was never the subject of the motion being debated and by no stretch should his name have come up negatively in the course of Senator Adeyemi’s contribution.
“I note sadly that efforts by the Senate President to call him to order were rebuffed as he was hell bent on going down the voyage to infamy.
“As a serving Parliamentarian from Abia State, I consider Senator Adeyemi’s outburst as a deliberate insult not only to the Governor, his family, his Christian faith where he is an ordained Elder, my constituency that is an integral part of the state, but also to my humble self, his colleague from Abia State in the National Assembly and well meaning Abians that freely gave Governor Ikpeazu their mandate to lead them.
“I also consider it as a disrespect to the 9th National Assembly as an institution that our hallowed Chambers would be used to engage in such unbecoming personal attacks that have no bearing on the business of Lawmaking.
“The floor of the Chambers of the National Assembly is no venue for the settling of personal scores and this should be made clear in unambiguous terms.
“As an Abian, I state without equivocation that my Governor, His Excellency, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, does not in any form or manner, represent the picture painted by Senator Adeyemi and his records on education and recent efforts that has positioned Abia State as #3 in Nigeria among the states attracting foreign direct investment and cash flow, has been sterling.
“I therefore declare that Senator Adeyemi’s outburst is a breach of my privilege as a Member of the National Assembly from Abia State and respectfully call on the Chairman of the National Assembly and the Senate President to call him to order.
“That Senator Smart Adeyemi should without delay and within the next two legislative days, on the floor of the Senate, publicly retract his ugly remarks against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and other well meaning people of Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency and Abians that freely elected Dr. Ikpeazu the Leader and Governor of My home state, Abia.
“That Senator Adeyemi apologises in clear and unambiguous language for his undignified outburst.
“Failure for Senator Adeyemi to do so, that the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the 9th National Assembly should as a matter of urgent public importance and for the purposes of preservation of the sanctity, integrity and pro-masses stand of the parliament, call for a joint sitting of the Ethics and Privileges Committee of both Chambers of the National Assembly to investigate the matter within 2 weeks to enable Senator Smart Adeyemi substantiate his claims against the Governor of Abia State.”
