Reps Speakership race : Emeka Nwajiuba’s actions robbed South-East of speakership-Okafor
By Femi Olaojo
Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chike Okafor on Monday attributed the failure of the South-East Zone to clinch the position of Speaker of the House in the Ninth National Assembly to actions taken by the member representing , Ehime Mbano / Ihitte Uboma / Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba against him.
Speaking with news men in Abuja yesterday, Hon Okafor who was a frontliner in the Speakership ace lamented that he was removed courtesy of a ruling by the FCT High Court Kubwa and replaced with Nwajiuba,
The former Chairman of the 8th Assembly House Committee on Healthcare Services said that his abrupt exit from the race adversely affected the fortunes of the South-East zone.
Hon Okafor decried what he described as the failed promise Nwajiuba made to members of his constituency and the people of Imo, that he would win the election to be Speaker, if he was elected into House.
He however disclosed that he and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed separate suits at the Court of Appeal, challenging the ruling of the FCT High Court which led to INEC presenting Nwajiuba with a certificate-of-return, resulting in his inauguration as the member representing Ehime Mbano / Ihitte Uboma / Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State.
According to him ,“Nwajiuba was supposed to a long standing member of the APC. But his actions have cost our party and its supporters in Imo and the South-East a whole lot. His actions just might have cost the South-East the opportunity to gain much in the House. We heard a lot of false promises back home, things like President Buhari asked him to defect to Accord Party and then that the President promised him the he would be made Speaker. A lot of disaffection was created back home with all of the falsehood and the situation is worse now as it is glaring that his promise of speakership was untrue.
“Honestly, if my brother Emeka Nwajiuba had been elected as Speaker or Deputy Speaker, I wouldn’t have gone on appeal. The election was shown live on TV and we saw how he (Nwajiuba) was anonymous
” This is in great contrast to 2015, when as a new member I seconded the nomination for Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who eventually emerged Speaker. I came close to being a principal officer, but due to the fact that I was a first term lawmakers I was denied
“You will recall that immediately I declared for Speaker, the South-East Caucus of the APC met in Enugu where they stated their support and I was applauded. So his (Nwajiuba’s) actions dented the popularity of my party in my constituency, state and zone because we have suffered a setback with the loss of a better placed candidate for the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker.
” I am a founding member of the APC having joined the party with by former governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, so i was in better position for consideration as principal officer, more than my sister, Hon. Nkiru Onyejeocha, who though qualified to be Speaker only joined the APC about a year ago”.
“ I have taken my case to the Court of Appeal, where I strongly believe that the people of Ehime Mbano / Ihitte Uboma / Obowo Federal Constituency, who freely elected me will get justice. My party will also get justice as they have stood by me, to ensure that the wish of the electorate is upheld and the culture of democracy sustained across the country”.
