By Mfonobong Ukpong
Some former members of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly have been reacting to recent development in the 6th Assembly where a local government transition committee Chairman, heeding to the advice of her 'political mentor' failed to appear before a committee of the House on invitation.
Though Mrs. Elsie Esara, the current Transition Committee Chairman of Itu had since appeared before the House Committee on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs after she was summoned on the floor of the House of Assembly to answer questions on why she snubbed the committee’s invitation, the former legislators who served variously in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth Assembly, have maintained that the legislature remains conscience of the people, and any attempt by any person to impinge on it's integrity or malign the House of Assembly is an affront on the constitution of the land and the people gave the lawmakers their mandate to represent them.
Speaking with this reporter, a former House Leader in the in the 3rd Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Etido Ibekwe, who represented Essien Udim State constituency under the platform of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, said "That issue is in the front burner of public discourse.
For any Akwa Ibom individual to think that Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, which is the legislature was not doing it's job by inviting an erring Local Government Chairman, particularly on an issue of finances,... issues of funds: That is the duty of the legislature.
Dr. Ibekwe who is currently an APC chieftain further said, "The House was doing it's duty because the legislature serves as watchdog on the executive".
"We are following it seriously. We have an input that we will give to the present legislature and the executive on that, because it doesn't spell nice. What is the local government supposed to be there for?. That is the most important arm of government because it is closer to the grassroot"
A former Deputy Leader of the House, Dr. Ekaette Ebong Okon who represented Itu State constituency in the 5th assembly, said the legislature at both the state and National have done creditably well in nurturing democracy in the country. She hailed the current leadership of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Reacting to the recent conduct of her local government transition committee Chairman, Mrs. Esara which drew public condemnation, the former Itu lawmaker said "As a former Deputy Leader of this House, i want to say that what the House of Assembly is doing is actually correct.
They have to powers to investigate any Transition Committee or any Local government activities that are going on, and by virtue of that right, they make laws that establish the Transition Committee and they would also make the law that will repeal or abrogate any Transition Committee. Therefore, i think that House is doing their legitimate duty. That's my take on it ".
A former Chief Whip in the second Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chief Ukata Akpan asserted that the legislature is conscience of the people, and should be respected by all.
"The House of Assembly has the right to invite anybody including Local Government Chairmen, and even the governor".
"The Chairman of Itu insulted the people and even the governor that appointed her. The House is the conscience of the people".
Also speaking, the first female Deputy Speaker of the House in the first Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Grace Edim Inyang, said the hallmark of any legislature lies in the fact that it represents the voice of the people.
On his part, a former parliamentarian, Hon. Prince Asuquo Nyong Essien who represented Uruan in the 3rd Assembly, affirmed the position earlier canvassed by his colleagues, maintaining that the legislature serves as watchdog to other arms of government.
He said the achievements recorded by the executive in the area of delivery of democracy dividends to the citizenry, is made possible following the support of the legislature which appropriate funds through it's scrutiny of the budget for the running of government and execution of projects that touches the lives of the people.
A former representative of Eastern Obolo /Ikot Abasi, Hon. Charles Constant Mbong, and who is currently the Director of Publicity, Congress of Former Legislators, Akwa Ibom State, warned against undermining the powers of the legislature.
The first Speaker of the House of Assembly in the first Assembly, Barr Nse Ekanem lauded the leadership qualities of the current leadership of the House of Assembly under Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke.
It could be recalled that recent invitation of the Transition Committee Chairman of Itu by the State House of
Assembly to appear before it's Committee on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs had generated heated debate in some quarters.
The matter took an interesting dimension when Mrs. Esara finally appeared before the House at plenary, pleading for forgiveness from the lawmakers over her conduct.
She stunned the legislators and members of the public who watched the proceedings from the gallery when she told the House of Assembly that her political mentor, Senator Anietie Okon had instructed her not to honour the invitation, and that he allegedly asked her to drag the House of Assembly to court.
She however pleaded that she be forgiven, saying she was wrongly advised by her mentor. On Monday 23rd January, 2017, 2017 Esara finally honoured the invitation of the House Committee on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs where she defended herself of the allegations leveled against her by members of Itu local government transition committee.
Mrs Esara also begged the committee to forgive her, promising that she would not repeat such conduct.
Some former members of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly have been reacting to recent development in the 6th Assembly where a local government transition committee Chairman, heeding to the advice of her 'political mentor' failed to appear before a committee of the House on invitation.
Though Mrs. Elsie Esara, the current Transition Committee Chairman of Itu had since appeared before the House Committee on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs after she was summoned on the floor of the House of Assembly to answer questions on why she snubbed the committee’s invitation, the former legislators who served variously in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth Assembly, have maintained that the legislature remains conscience of the people, and any attempt by any person to impinge on it's integrity or malign the House of Assembly is an affront on the constitution of the land and the people gave the lawmakers their mandate to represent them.
Speaking with this reporter, a former House Leader in the in the 3rd Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Etido Ibekwe, who represented Essien Udim State constituency under the platform of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, said "That issue is in the front burner of public discourse.
For any Akwa Ibom individual to think that Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, which is the legislature was not doing it's job by inviting an erring Local Government Chairman, particularly on an issue of finances,... issues of funds: That is the duty of the legislature.
Dr. Ibekwe who is currently an APC chieftain further said, "The House was doing it's duty because the legislature serves as watchdog on the executive".
"We are following it seriously. We have an input that we will give to the present legislature and the executive on that, because it doesn't spell nice. What is the local government supposed to be there for?. That is the most important arm of government because it is closer to the grassroot"
A former Deputy Leader of the House, Dr. Ekaette Ebong Okon who represented Itu State constituency in the 5th assembly, said the legislature at both the state and National have done creditably well in nurturing democracy in the country. She hailed the current leadership of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Reacting to the recent conduct of her local government transition committee Chairman, Mrs. Esara which drew public condemnation, the former Itu lawmaker said "As a former Deputy Leader of this House, i want to say that what the House of Assembly is doing is actually correct.
They have to powers to investigate any Transition Committee or any Local government activities that are going on, and by virtue of that right, they make laws that establish the Transition Committee and they would also make the law that will repeal or abrogate any Transition Committee. Therefore, i think that House is doing their legitimate duty. That's my take on it ".
A former Chief Whip in the second Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chief Ukata Akpan asserted that the legislature is conscience of the people, and should be respected by all.
"The House of Assembly has the right to invite anybody including Local Government Chairmen, and even the governor".
"The Chairman of Itu insulted the people and even the governor that appointed her. The House is the conscience of the people".
Also speaking, the first female Deputy Speaker of the House in the first Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Grace Edim Inyang, said the hallmark of any legislature lies in the fact that it represents the voice of the people.
On his part, a former parliamentarian, Hon. Prince Asuquo Nyong Essien who represented Uruan in the 3rd Assembly, affirmed the position earlier canvassed by his colleagues, maintaining that the legislature serves as watchdog to other arms of government.
He said the achievements recorded by the executive in the area of delivery of democracy dividends to the citizenry, is made possible following the support of the legislature which appropriate funds through it's scrutiny of the budget for the running of government and execution of projects that touches the lives of the people.
A former representative of Eastern Obolo /Ikot Abasi, Hon. Charles Constant Mbong, and who is currently the Director of Publicity, Congress of Former Legislators, Akwa Ibom State, warned against undermining the powers of the legislature.
The first Speaker of the House of Assembly in the first Assembly, Barr Nse Ekanem lauded the leadership qualities of the current leadership of the House of Assembly under Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke.
It could be recalled that recent invitation of the Transition Committee Chairman of Itu by the State House of
Assembly to appear before it's Committee on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs had generated heated debate in some quarters.
The matter took an interesting dimension when Mrs. Esara finally appeared before the House at plenary, pleading for forgiveness from the lawmakers over her conduct.
She stunned the legislators and members of the public who watched the proceedings from the gallery when she told the House of Assembly that her political mentor, Senator Anietie Okon had instructed her not to honour the invitation, and that he allegedly asked her to drag the House of Assembly to court.
She however pleaded that she be forgiven, saying she was wrongly advised by her mentor. On Monday 23rd January, 2017, 2017 Esara finally honoured the invitation of the House Committee on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs where she defended herself of the allegations leveled against her by members of Itu local government transition committee.
Mrs Esara also begged the committee to forgive her, promising that she would not repeat such conduct.
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