OBIARUKU/Nigeria: The Executive Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Council, Barr Solomon Ajede, has called on members of the legislative arm of the council to work in unity as a formidable team to be able to deliver on their mandate of fostering economic growth in Ukwuani.
The call is coming on the heels of a fracas resulting from an attempt by a faction of the council’s Legislative arm to oust the leader of the house, Mr. Clarius Osaeliogor following a motion for vote of no confidence on him, moved by a member of the house, which was promptly countered by another member of the house.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday 11 November, 2021, Hon. Ajede said it was imperative to set the records straight with regard to the true state of things at the council with a view to guiding against false reportage on the development by the media.
Fielding questions from Journalist, Hon. Ajede categorically said, “there was an attempt to impeach the leader of the legislative arm of Ukwuani local government council when a member of the house moved a motion for vote of no confidence on him, but the motion was promptly countered by another member, thus resulting in a rowdy session that eventually brought the activities of that day to a close. Interestingly, the aggrieved factions are being reconciled as I have activated some ‘mercenaries’ to wade into the matter and make a truce among the members, and restore normalcy in the house so that legislative business can resume in the interest of Ukwuani people.”
Continuing, the Ukwuani local government boss described the members of the legislative arm as descent and honourable democrats who have shown a commendable zeal to move the council forward since they came on board about eight months ago, adding that the impeachment fracas was not peculiar to Ukwuani council, as such incident often happens the world over where true democracy is being practiced.
While tasking the members of the legislative house on brilliant and impactful legislative activities, Hon. Ajede emphasized strongly that the primary assignment of the legislative arm of the council is to make laws that would improve the wellbeing of Ukwuani people, even as he appealed to the members of the legislative arm to focus on their legislative duties diligently.
His words, “the primary assignment of the legislative arm is primarily to make laws that would improve the wellbeing of the people, so I urge them to expend their energy on progressive legislative activities so as to achieving the purpose for which they were elected. On that note, I charge them to refrain from any actions that are counterproductive to the growth of the council.”
He continued, “my candid advice is, let them put their differences aside and come together as a united team determined to make a difference in the development of the council and the people of Ukwuani.”
Hon. Ajede, however, vehemently debunked the allegation that he maintains a relationship with the leader of the legislative arm of the council that tends to compromise legislative processes, saying, “I don’t know how the peddlers of the allegation arrived at that departure from truth. Suffice it to say that it is normal for the executive and the legislatures to work together in pursuit of one principal goal, being to move Ukwuani forward. Since I came on board as the Executive Chairman of Ukwuani local government council, I have leveraged the synergy existing between the legislative arm and my office to move the council forward for the overall wellbeing of our people. As a true democrat, I should be able to maintain an unfettered relationship with the leader, and other members of the legislative arm to ensure smooth running of the council.”
He recalled, “after the legislators were sworn in, they had their first meeting with me and requested a synergy with my office so they would be able to deliver on their mandate, and that has been the platform upon which the executive and the legislator have carried out their independent functions seamlessly centering on moving Ukwuani forward.”
When asked to comment on an allegation of incompetency being leveled against the leader of the legislative house, Hon. Ajede said, “I don’t know what they meant by incompetence because the word ‘incompetence’ is relative. By my assessment, the young man has been able to display a commendable level of decorum in piloting the affairs of the house for about eight months he came on board. I’ve watched him from afar and do believe he has the comportment to carry out his onerous task as leader of the legislative arm of this council, hence I am appealing to the members to cooperate with him to carry out his functions creditably.”
