WHY I WAS REMOVED AS DELTA SPEAKER, BY KENT

By NBF News

ABOUT nine years after he was removed as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Omatsone Kent yesterday opened up on the intrigues and power play during the first tenure of former Governor James Ibori's administration, which eventually led to his removal.

Meanwhile, the former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Martins Okonta, was yesterday inaugurated for the second time as member of the House.

The action followed a recent Supreme Court judgment, which reinstated him as the winner of the April 14, 2007, election in Ika-South Constituency.

At yesterday's sitting, shortly before Acting Governor Sam Obi presented his budget for 2011, the House's Majority Leader, Akpodiogaga S. Emeyese, moved a motion for Okonta's reinstatement and was seconded by the Minority Leader, Mrs. Patricia Ajudua.

He was subsequently sworn in by acting Speaker, Basil Ganagana.

A judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja last May 12 had sacked Okonta, who had been Speaker since April 22, 2008.

Kent, who spoke during a declaration in Warri to contest the senatorial seat for the Delta-South Constituency on the platform of the PDP, said he faced daunting challenges and opposition greater than he anticipated.

He added that his dogged determination not to yield to executive intimidation led to his early exit from the House.

He said: 'I was in the House to bring development to the people but little did I know I would meet challenges – although it was not as if I was unaware that there would be challenges, the ones I met were too great for me to handle.

All those I assumed to be my friends turned out to be predators. They were double-edged swords'.

The former Speaker also disclosed that he disagreed with Ibori over activities of some of his commissioners, adding: 'I told him to ensure that the commissioners were accountable in their ministries.

'Perhaps, if Ibori had listened to me, he would not be the only one suffering while the commissioners who actually committed more offences are free men', he added.

On the sack of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration, the erstwhile Speaker blamed the situation on the inefficiency of the PDP leadership.

He said it was an honour to present himself to vie as a senator, adding that his desire was borne out of his personal obligation and responsibility to offer himself for the service of his fatherland.

While insisting on power shift or zoning, Kent argued that the Isoko occupied the Delta-South Senatorial seat for four years, from 1999-2003, that the Ijaw took over representation for two terms of eight years from 2003 to 2011 and that it was the Itsekiri's turn to produce a candidate for the seat.