Delta Thwart Attempt By Governor Okowa To End 5th Assembly Before Expiration Date

The Speaker’s actions also contributed to the Governor’s defeat. Instead of consulting with his colleagues on the floor of the house during the Thursday session, the Speaker, Mr. Peter Onwusanya, who was described by members as a political and legislative kindergarten, gave the Governor's letter to the Clerk of the House, who read it to the members. Immediately some of the lawmakers stood in opposition.

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, got a baptism of fire as he was disgraced by State legislators on Thursday. The lawmakers thwarted his attempt to unconstitutionally dissolve the fifth Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly before its proper termination date.

The lawmakers, who were visibly angry about the action of the Governor, stood their ground and resisted the Governor's call for the dissolution of the Assembly, pointing to constitutional provisions that supported their position.

It all started when the Governor sent a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Peter Onwusanya. The Governor’s letter sought a proclamation dissolving the Fifth Assembly, which had been inaugurated on June 7, 2011 by former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. According to the lawmakers, Governor Okowa had no constitutional right to dissolve the Fifth Assembly on Thursday, 4 June, 2015.

The Speaker’s actions also contributed to the Governor’s defeat. Instead of consulting with his colleagues on the floor of the house during the Thursday session, the Speaker, Mr. Peter Onwusanya, who was described by members as a political and legislative kindergarten, gave the Governor's letter to the Clerk of the House, who read it to the members. Immediately some of the lawmakers stood in opposition.

At this juncture, the House’s Deputy Majority Leader, who represents Isoko South constituency 2, Mr. Johnson Erijo teamed up with the former Speaker of the House, Mr. Victor Ochei, who represents Aniocha North. They drew the attention of the Speaker and other members to Section 105(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which provides that "A House of Assembly shall stand dissolved at the expiration of four years starting from the first day of its sitting." Uduaghan had inaugurated the Assembly on June 7, 2011. Therefore June 4, 2015 was 3 days short of the Assembly’s four-year tenure. As a result, the Governor’s dissolution date was unconstitutional.

Some members stormed the Speaker’s table and started to discuss in hushed tones in a bid to handle the situation. After consultation, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Monday Igbuya moved the motion for the House to adjourn sine die, and was seconded by the member representing Uvwie constituency, Mr. Efe Ofobruku. The Speaker immediately adjourned the house sine die. An adjournment sine die is an adjournment without setting a date for meeting again.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, one visibly angry female lawmaker, who chose to stay anonymous, warned Governor Okowa to take it easy and not to over rush things. She pointed out that his behavior might cause him to regret being a Governor if he was not more cautious.

"Just look at the way he has started creating division and tension in the state by sacking workers and the dissolution of a statutory board,” she declared. “He must be careful with the manner he listens to the advice of some of his political followers, some of this persons caused serious problem to the immediate past government.” 

In addition, she warned: "Some of them were even suspended from office with their corrupt and fraudulent antecedents. So Okowa should focus more to deliver the dividends of democracy to Deltans not this politics of vendetta he has started to play barely a week in office."

During the valedictory session of the House, the Speaker recapped the legislative performance of the Fifth Assembly. He disclosed that 38 bills were passed out of the 55 that were proposed during the period under review. 31 of the bills were given assent. 119 resolutions were passed and 121 motions successfully moved in the last four years.

Following the opposition of lawmakers to the June 4 date, the Fifth Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly will now be formally dissolved on Monday, June 8, 2015 by Governor Okowa.

In another development, the new Delta Governor has been accused of fraudulently renaming a Bill in order to deceive Deltans about its purposes. Following the criticism and condemnation that greeted the recently passed Asaba Capital Development Agency Bill, the Governor, it was reliably learned, has deceptively renamed the bill. It is now titled the Delta State Capital Territory Development Bill, allegedly to cover up his sinister and fraudulent intentions.

According to an impeccable government house source, "The criticism and condemnation that trailed that passage of the bill by the house was something else. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was so disturbed and restless. Because the aim of the bill is to serve like DESOPADEC for the people of the core Delta North but following the mixed reactions, he came out to deceive Deltans again, by changing the name from the initial Asaba Capital Development Agency Bill to Delta State Capital Territory Development Bill to have an all- encompassing outlook.” 

The Government House source continued: "But this doesn't change the intention of the governor behind the bill which is nothing but to siphon public funds just like what is happening in the DESOPADEC. We are in government house and we can tell you things as they happen in government. Just watch, you will see what Okowa will use the eyes of Deltans to do. As I talk the plans to close that Government house annex in Warri is in top gear. Forget what they come out to tell Deltans. Let's just watch things how they will unfold in the next few weeks."