Interesting developments at Abia House of Assembly today

It is no longer news that former Speaker Martins Azubuike was removed by his colleagues yesterday for sundry reasons adduced in the course of the impeachment proceedings. What many do not know is that the events of yesterday was the 3rd attempt to move against him by his colleagues across party lines.
What I still find strange is that since the last rumored attempt in August 2016 the former Speaker apparently failed to move to pacify his colleagues and unify the house substantially.
The news today from the house is that the man elected to replace him just yesterday resigned today, citing "personal reasons and need to move the house and state forward". Ordinarily that should be enough but in a country where people prefer to believe conspiracies churned out to feed the gullible public, permit me to share an informed guess as to what really may have necessitated today's events.
Abia is a state that is serious with equitable distribution of power. The current Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, is largely a product of Abia charter of equity. Contrary to what many know, the same charter effectively defined how other high offices are to be shared to avoid exclusion and domination of any constituent group.
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has championed the cause of equity in the state and adopted it as a guiding principle in power distribution in the state.
What role did equity play in the unfolding drama at the house of assembly?
While I cannot speak authoritatively on the affairs of the legislature I can hazard a guess based on private conversations with stakeholders.
The election of Hon Kennedy Njoku of Osisioma effectively ensured that 3 top political positions are in the hands of Abians from the same federal constituency: Osisioma/Obingwa/Ugwunagbo federal constituency. The Governor, Senator Abaribe and Speaker Njoku are all from that constituency alongside Federal Representative Solomon Adaelu. In the not so distant past that is exactly the same area called Obioma Ngwa LGA.

If the speakership remained at Osisioma that will mean that the Isiala Ngwa axis of Abia central is left with nothing.
Equity demanded that legislators act to restore balance by voting in someone from Isiala Ngwa axis to occupy the 3rd highest political position in the state. Governor Ikpeazu is from Abia South senatorial zone (Which includes Obingwa, Aba, Ugwunagbo etc) his Deputy, Rt Hon Sir Udo Oko Chukwu is from Abia North (Arochukwu/Ohafia) and the Speaker should come from Abia central that includes Umuahia (north, south and Ikwuano), Isiala Ngwa (north and South) and Osisioma.
I believe it was this consideration of equity that compelled Hon Kennedy to voluntarily resign and also led to the unanimous vote by the house for Chikwendu Kanu of Isiala Ngwa South with ZERO dissent. All members of the house, including those elected on APGA's ticket voted for Honorable Chikwendu without exception.
If you understand the above, you will ignore rumor merchants who want you to believe that money changed hands or that a plot is in the offing.
It is interesting that those alleging a plot against the Governor are the same folks who never spend a day without finding what to accuse the governor of. They are even mostly the hirelings of those desperately in court to sack the governor.
Why then are they crying more than the supposed bereaved? If there is a threat to the Governor from any quarters his aides and true supporters should be the ones shouting. Not agents of desperadoes.
Happy new year jare.
JOK

In protest against fur clothes, Barcelona activists go naked

Animal rights defenders stripped down Sunday in the Spanish tourist hub of Barcelona to draw attention to the cruelty of the fur industry.

Dozens of activists, naked, doused in fake blood and piled together in imitation of a heap of animal carcasses, staged a lie-in in the centre of town.

“How many lives just for a coat?” read a sign in English held up by Luisa Escribano, 53, and her daughter Barbara, 21, in the middle of the protesters.

“It is very important to draw attention to what happens to the animals, and which goes largely unnoticed. They suffer and die on farms, but their lives matter for me and my family,” said Luisa.

Each year, over 60 million animals — including over 32 million in the European Union — are killed around the world to make coats and other items from their skin, according to international animal rights group, AnimaNaturalis, which staged the demonstration

Europe produces 70 percent of the world’s mink fur and 63 percent of its fox fur, according to the group.

Denmark and Finland are the world’s largest producers and exporters of mink and fox fur.

Other major producers are Russia, Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Crystal Palace sack Alan Pardew

Alan Pardew has been sacked as Crystal Palace manager with the club just above the relegation places, the Premier League side’s chairman Steve Parish said on Thursday.
Pardew, 55, guided Palace to last season’s FA Cup final where they lost to Manchester United in extra time but their Premier League form this term has been poor.
They have won just four of their 17 matches and only one of their last 11, and are presently only a point above the relegation places.
The immediate frontrunner to replace Pardew appeared to be Sam Allardyce, whose England reign lasted just one match before he had to resign after making ill-advised remarks to undercover reporters.

 

“I would like to put on record our sincere gratitude for the tremendous service Alan has given us, both in his time here as manager and previously as a player,” said Parish in a statement published on the club website.

“Following a fantastic second half of 2014/15, the 2015/16 season culminated in only narrowly missing out on winning the FA Cup as well as securing our Premier League place for a record breaking fourth time.

Parish said Pardew, who played for the club as well and described his return when appointed manager in early 2015 as a homecoming, had left a legacy which would benefit Palace for years to come.
“During his tenure Alan’s hard work and dedication were without question, he has improved so many areas of the club and we wish him the very best for the future,” said Parish.
“With games now coming thick and fast over the holiday period the club are hoping to put someone in place as quickly as possible but have nothing to say about a replacement at this time.”
Pardew, whose previous managerial jobs include West Ham United, Southampton and Newcastle United, said his “special bond” with the Eagles had not been affected by the ending of his managerial reign.
“I would just like to take the opportunity to thank everybody at Crystal Palace for their fantastic support,” said Pardew.
“In particular a big thanks to the players who gave me absolutely everything and Steve Parish and his Board.
“Personally I have a lot of good feelings for this football Club and am sad that my time there has ended.”

Four Nigerian Girls recreats their Childhood picture.

What is amazing is how the last born is now the tallest....

Federal roads in the East need urgent attention, Ikpeazu tells Senate

Governor Ikpeazu with senator Kabiru Gaya

Abia Gvernor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has described road infrastructure as the oil that lubricates trade and commerce and appealed to the federal government to urgently address the deplorable state of federal roads in the South East and South South geopolitical zones.

The Governor made the appeal at the Government House, Umuahia, when he received in audience the members of the senate committee on Works led by the chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya.

The Governor also stated that the poor road network in the South South and South East, especially Abia State, makes it difficult for commerce and business to flourish, noting that a journey from Aba to Ikot Ekpene or Aba to Port Harcourt that would ordinarily take 30 minutes now takes between 3 to 5 hours.

He lamented that most federal roads in the state including the Aba-Ikot Ekpene, the Umuahia-Ikot

Ekpene, Umuahia-Ohafia- Arochukwu federal roads pose serious threats to lives and properties of road users as well as endanger the security of communities along the routes.

According to the Governor, "good roads and electricity are essential for the five policy pillars of our administration, of which trade and commerce are key, to succeed".

He advised the engineers handling federal road contracts in the South East to look at the history of the roads to ascertain why they keep failing at some key points.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya, said they were in the state to look at some of the deplorable federal roads as part of their oversight functions.

According to him, "we want to ensure that contractors handling federal roads carry out their functions well as the federal government is serious and committed to providing good roads to Nigerians".

Sen Gaya commended the Governor for his efforts at moving the state forward as well as the senators from Abia for their unity of purpose in ensuring that the bad roads in the state are given attention.