Angela Mbaocha, Abakaliki
There is controversy at the Ebonyi State House of Assembly over alleged resignation of the Deputy Speaker, Hon Odefa Obasi Odefa.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, had on Monday declared the seat of the Deputy Speaker vacant after reading a purported letter from Odefa stating his alleged resignation as a member of the state Assembly.
Reading the letter, Nwifuru noted that Odefa in the letter said the resignation was to enable him concentrate and do some other business.
“Letter of resignation as a member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly. “I, Hon.Obasi Odefa Obasi Odefa, representing Onicha East Constituency do hereby resign my seat in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, on this day 15th November 2021 after due consultation with my family, selected stakeholders and my political associates this will give me time to pursue other engagement.
“Mr. Speaker sir, I wish to use this medium to thank you immensely for your kindness to me throughout my stay in this house. I cease today,15th day of November, 2021 to be a member of this house. Thank you and God bless you very sincerely”, as read out by Nwifuru.
Nwifuru after reading the letter declared the seat of Onicha East constituency, being the constituency Odefa was representing vacant.
He swore in Hon. Kingsley Ogbonnaya lkoro, representing Afikpo North West state constituency, as the new Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State Assembly.
In a swift reaction, Obasi debunked the said resignation, reiterating he never authorized any document of such.
He said, “Ordinarily this state has been peaceful, or should I say it has been in the peace of the grave yard, it does appear as if a desperate ambitions of a few individuals is more paramount than the interest of the people of Ebonyi state. This madness for power should have a limit or whatever it’s so called .
“First of all, I have never in my life resigned as a member of the House of Assembly, I never authored any documents, and I challenge them to come up with documents supposedly authorized by me.
“Why will I resign from the House of Assembly, are they the people that sent me to the Assembly,? It’s the people of Oshiri, Ukawu and Abomege that can tell me to leave and I will leave and that should be through recalling. They have to recall me so for anybody to come and say that I have resigned and then you come and say that you declare my seat vacant that’s a monkey childs play.
“In any case saying that I joined APC, I have never in my life registered in any other political party except the PDP. I did not attend their congresses anywhere in the ward, I did not participate in their local government even the state own and I will not participate in any other so called functions”.
Odefa, expressed concerns on the desperation, hooliganism and constitutional bridges by the members of the All Progressives Congress in the Assembly, adding that it was most unfortunate for members to forge letters and purport that the letters were written by PDP members.
He alleged that he has been receiving serious threats, even as he reaffirmed his position as the Deputy Speaker of the state house of assembly.
He said he has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Garba over the threat.
Odefa was flanked by seven lawmakers as he spoke to reporters at his residence in Abakaliki.
Osi, in his reaction, said he and Mrs. Eziulo did not write any letter to the House to resign from the PDP.
He maintained they are still bona fide members of the PDP and do not have any intention or reason to defect to the APC.
The lawmakers vowed to sue the Assembly and their 15 colleagues for alleged forgery and defamation of their character.
