Delta State lawmakers impeach speaker Igbuya, majority leader Owhefere

Igbuya accuses Okowa of complicity

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya (Sapele constituency), has been impeached over allegation of financial misappropriation and high-handedness.

Expectedly, 22 out of the 29 members were said to have signed the impeachment notice.At the plenary yesterday, which held at about 6.00 a.m. and presided over by Deputy Speaker, Friday Osanebi, with both the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arm, the custodian of the mace in attendance, Mr. Sheriff Oboriowori, representing Okpe Constituency, was elected Speaker.

Also, Mr. Tim Owhefere (Isoko North) was removed as the Majority Leader and Mr. Johnson Erijo (Isoko South II) was elected in his place.The new majority leader immediately moved for the suspension of the impeached Speaker and Majority Leader for three months and was unanimously adopted.

The move to impeach Igbuya was kick-started shortly after the opening prayer by Mr. Alphonsus Ojo (Ukwuani Constituency) as Erijo moved for the removal of Igbuya.

Erijo said the removal became necessary following the incompetence of the former Speaker, high-handedness and his unacceptable leadership style. The motion was seconded by former Speaker Peter Onwusanya (Oshimili South) and was unanimously adopted, following which the Deputy Speaker who presided called for nomination of the new Speaker.

Onwusanya then nominated Oboriowori and was promptly seconded by Mr. Daniel Mayuku (Warri South West).However, the new Speaker promised to adhere strictly to the rules of House.

Oboriowori, who stated that he would accord every member due respect, promised not to allow the integrity of the House to be depleted and called for the support of the House.

He immediately announced the dissolution of all standing committees.For the second time, Onwusanya rose again to move for the removal of Owhefere as the majority leader and nominated Erijo in his place.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Peter Uviejitobor, representing (Udu Constituency).Meanwhile, palpable tension has enveloped the state, particularly Asaba, following the impeachment of the Assembly Speaker.

Although the tension continued to hang in the air even on the face of security agents, informed sources said Igbuya was removed from office over his alleged disagreement with the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on what was described as shoddy performances in the last two years of his administration.

Besides, the former Speaker had also incurred the wrath of his kinsmen who described most of his actions as “barbaric and unorthodox,” especially as he became the Speaker of the House under alleged dubious circumstances.

But the embattled former Speaker, who refused to surrender, however, spoke in Urhobo language translated into English that Governor Okowa masterminded his removal.

Unconfirmed sources said that Igbuya, a PDP chieftain, had allegedly criticised the governor on his tribal sentiments and shoddy performances, a situation the governor allegedly took
cognisance of and resolved that he couldn’t continue as the Speaker under his administration.

The governor’s media aides, who did not want their names in the print, dispelled the allegations against the governor as untrue, saying: “Igbuya is not competent in addition to be highhanded. It is the governor who had been saving him all the three times they had wanted to impeach him.” Igbuya’s media aide, Mr. Henry Ebierere, did not return missed calls put to his phone by our reporter.