Kennedy Ibeh Makes First Outing As Imo Speaker

RT HONOURABLE KENNEDY IBEH’S FIRST OUTING AS SPEAKER OF IMO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, TODAY 16/11/2021 : LEGISLATIVE EXCELLENCE DEMONSTRATED

In A Determined Bid To Prove His Distinguished Honourable Colleagues Did Not Make Any Mistake In Electing Him The Speaker Of Imo State House Of Assembly Few Days Ago, Rt Honourable Kennedy Ibeh Demonstrated His Readiness, Vibrancy, Wisdom And Legislative Ingenuity On His First Outing Today (16/11/2021) As He Assumed Duties.

The Ready-To-Work Speaker Arrived The Assembly Complex Very Early, Into The Waiting Arms Of Assembly Workers, Who Welcomed Him, And Was Led Into His Office. Shortly After, His Able Colleagues Arrived And Went Into “Executive Session”, Where Issues Of State Importance Were Discussed And Harmonized. One Hour Later, The Sergeant At Arms, The Clerk Of The Assembly And Other Assembly Senior Staff Led Mr Speaker And His Colleagues Into The Hallowed Chamber Of The IMHA.

Legislative Protocols Were Observed Before The Commencement Of Plenary, In The Following Orders.

• PRAYERS

*ANNOUNCEMENTS

• PETITIONS ( Honourable Uche Ogbuagu Submitted A Petition)
• A MOTION TO CURB THE MENACE OF “MKPURUNMIRI” (A TYPE OF HARD DRUG THAT HAS BEEN DEVASTATING YOUTHS) IN IMO STATE WAS SPONSORED BY RT HONOURABLE ARTHUR EGWIM ( IDEATO NORTH STATE CONSTITUENCY). Rt Hon Arthur Egwim Gave Several Reasons Why The Menace Of Mkpurunmiri Among Imo Youths Should Be Checked. According To Him, Intake Of Mkpurunmiri Has Led Many Of Imo Youths To Form Cult-Gangs That Have Been Terrorising Several Communities, Through Armed Banditry, Kidnap, “Unknown Gun Men”, Other Violent Crimes And Most Importantly, Many Of These Youths Have Become Insane, Thereby Behaving Abnormally. Continuing, Hon Arthur Egwim Explained That He Personally Undertook To Find Out The Reason Why Youths Indulge In Taking Mkpurunmiri, And Shockingly Informed The House That Some Of The Affected Youths Informed Him That “They Feel On Top Of The World” After Taking The Hard Drug. He Therefore Called On The Imo State Government To Set Up Strategies To Stop The Spread Of Intake Of Mkpurunmiri, Arguing That If This Was Not Done, The State Would Be A Dumping Ground For Junks.

The Motion Was Seconded By Hon Ngozi Obiefule Of Isu State Constituency

Supporting The Motion, The Ebullient Deputy Speaker, Rt Honourable Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu Offered The Reason For The Rise On Intake Of Mkpurunmiri To Youth Unemployment, And Youths Not Being Engaged Into Social And Economic Activities. Since An Idle Mind Is The Devil’s Worshop, Many Of These Youths Resorted To Dancing Away Their Lives By Abusing Drugs Such As Mkpurunmiri. Deputy Speaker Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu Thereafter Called For Aggressive Employment Strategies To Engage Our Youths, Both By Government And Private Organizations, Including Corporate Organizations.

Also, Hon Chigozie Nwaneri (ORU EAST CONSTITUENCY) And Hon Uche Ogbuagu Supported The Motion.

When The Speaker Put The Motion For Adoption, It Was Unanimously Adopted, With No Dissenting Voice. Thereafter, Speaker Kennedy Ibeh Ruled As Follows…….

• There Should Be Establishment Of Rehabilitation Centre.
• Re-orientation And Workshop/Seminars To Geometrically Educate Our Youths On The Dangers Of Mkpurunmiri.
• Letters To Be Written Immediately, Inviting Commandant Of The National Drug Law And Enforcement Agency (Imo State Directorate), Imo State Commissioner Of Police And Imo State Commissioner For Health To Appear In The EXECUTIVE SESSION Of The House On Thursday, 18/11/2021. Some Bills Were Stepped Down, While The Bill For The Moderation Of Expenditure On Burial Ceremony, Sponsored By Hon Chidiebere Ogbunikpa (Okigwe State Constituency) Scaled Through The Second Reading, And Was Committed To Adhoc Committee Headed By Hon Uche Ogbuagu As Chairman, Rt Honourable Prince Obinna Okwara As Member And Four Others. They Have Two Weeks To Report To The House..

Thereafter, The Minority Leader Of The House, Hon Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise), Hon Dominic Ezerioha (Oru-West), Hon Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise), Rt Honourable Collins Chiji ( Isiala Mbano), Hon Heclus Okoro (Ohaji/Egbema) Etc, All Eulogized The Leadership Qualities And Dexterity Of Rt Honourable Barrister Kennedy Ibeh.

The Motion For Adjournment Was Moved By The Majority Leader, Hon Kanayo Onyenaechi.

The House Rose At 2pm.

Still Not Tired, Rt Honourable Kennedy Ibeh Played Host To The Following……

• IMHA Correspondence Chapel.
• Parliamentary Staff Association Of Nigeria, PASAN, Led By The Chairman Of The Associated, Comrade Victor Nnadi.
• Obowo Leaders Led By Hon Chief Fidelis Ukegbu And Chief Agunechemba Ihechere.

Today’s Legislative Outing Would Not Be Complete Without Mentioning That Rt Honourable Kennedy Ibeh Showered Praises On His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma For Embracing And Accepting His Emergence As The Speaker Of Imo State House Of Assembly, While At The Same Time, Assuring That There Will Be Consolidated Harmonious Relationship Between The Legislature And The Executive, In Bringing Dividends Of Democracy To The People Of Imo State.

To God Be The Glory.

Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
16/11/2021.