Imo Assembly Leadership: Group Urges Okorocha To Give Merit A Priority
With less than one month to the end of the present administration in the state, a formidable youth group has advised the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to uphold the sanctity of merit and strong leadership credentials in determining who presides over the affairs of the in-coming Imo state House of Assembly.
Coming under the aegis of Imo Youths for Transparency and Good Governance, the group maintained that for the Rescue Mission administration in the state to consolidate on its records of achievements, it must strive to support the enthronement of a robust and visionary leadership in the state legislature, adding that such mechanism would no doubt, continue to sustain the already existing cordial working relationship between the executive and the legislature.
Convener of the group, Comr. Pascal Nnabuchi, in a statement released yesterday in Owerri, emphasized that for the in-coming Assembly to effectively build on the enviable legacies already bequeathed by the out-going lawmakers, merit and strong cognitive legislative experience were needed in the leadership of the in-coming Assembly to enable it contribute its quota to the meaningful development and service of the people of the state.
The group further observed that among all the elected members in the in-coming Assembly, the current member representing Okigwe state constituency in the House, Hon. Acho Ihim, remained the topmost qualified lawmaker to lead the House as its Speaker.
It posited that having made remarkable contributions on the floor of the House in the last four years, Hon. Ihim, who has become a rallying point, stands tall among his numerous colleagues when viewed through the legislative prisms of ranking membership status, which according to them, was needed to ensure viability in the activities of the state legislature.
The statement further added that the support for Hon. Ihim’s elevation as the Speaker of the in-coming Assembly became necessary following his undivided loyalty and the total support he has rendered to the Governor and the development of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the state despite obvious pressures from forces militating against its success, stressing that such reward would further encourage loyalty, dedication, discipline, perseverance, trust, hard work and selflessness among party members and supporters.
The youth group also noted that based on the enormous responsibilities attached to the legislative arm of the government in any democratic setting, it was incumbent on the state governor to place premium on cognitive experience, maturity, loyalty, trust worthy, discipline, humility and above all, wisdom which they emphasized that the Okigwe born lawmaker possessed to enable him galvanize the House and its members for optimum performance.