South East breaking News
The Member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon Barr Jerry Uzosike, brought a personal explanation over the demise of his mother who died few months ago.
In his words “She will be buried, according to the decision of the Church, on the 30th of December. I want to use this Opportunity to invite us and ask the House to put the family in Prayers even as you mourn with us”
The Speaker Rt.Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, on behalf of the Abia State House of Assembly, condoled with Hon Barr Jerry Uzosike over the loss of his Mother.
MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.
No Matter of Urgent Public Importance.
ORDER PAPER.
THE clerk, Sir John Pedro Irokansi, read the Order Paper for the day, Tuesday, 24th September, 2019, as follows:
(1) Continuation of Screening of Commissioner Nominees.
The Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu, moved the motion that the House continued with the screening of Commissioner Nominees. The Minority Leader, Hon Abraham Oba, seconded the motion while the House responded in the affirmat
The Speaker asked the nominee to introduce himself to the Assembly and identify his immediate Representative which he did in the person of Hon.Chijioke Chukwu.
The Lawmaker representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, asked the House to ask the commissioner nominee questions.
“Rt.Hon Cosmos Ndukwe since 1999 has traversed the state right from the time he was elected as a Councillor. It would also interest you that the man has served the state as a Chief of Staff.
“One thing I want you to know is that the man displayed an extra ordinary statesmanship during the last election.
“On that note Mr Speaker, my dear colleagues, I implore us to allow him take a bow and go.”
The Speaker therefore asked the nominee, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, to take a bow and go.
The Sergeant-At-Arms ushered the next nominee, Barr. Suleiman Ukandu.
The nominee having introduced himself, the Speaker opened the questioning session with the following statement.
“I know Barr.Suleiman Ukandu as a gentleman, he is an intelligent man, an honest man, and most importantly, my campaign Director that worked so hard to see me through in the last election that brought me to this House.
“If it is the wish of this House, the floor is open for questions”, the Speaker said.
The Lawmaker representing Umuahia North State Constituency, Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike, said Barr Suleiman Ukandu is well known to him.
“Mr Speaker, my Honourable Colleagues, I hereby move that we extend the same privilege given to a commissioner nominee yesterday by virtue of our former Speaker’s intervention. I therefore move that we allow the nominee to take a bow and leave”, he said.
The Lawmaker Representing Isialangwa North State Constituency, Hon Ginger Onwusibe, supported the call to extend the same privilege in reference to Barr Suleiman Ukandu because, according to him, he has at various times delivered to the people of Abia State.
The Member representing Bende North Constituency asked the nominee what he could do about the crisis between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.
However, Hon. Jerry Uzosike Representing Umuahia South State Constituency called his colleague to order. Based on that, the Speaker overruled the question by The Hon Member for Bende North Hon Chijioke Chukwu.
The Speaker Subsequently asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the Chamber.
The Sergeant-At-Arms ushered in the next Commissioner Nominee, Mr Chimaobi Obisike.
The Speaker welcomed the nominee and asked him to introduce himself to the Members of the Assembly and identify all the three Members representing the whole of Aba in the Chamber.
The nominee therefore identified Hon.Aaron Uzodike, Hon.Abraham Oba and Hon.Obinna Ichita.
The Lawmakers for Aba North, Aba Central and Aba South State Constituencies all urged the House to support the screening of the nominee.
The Lawmaker representing Ohafia North State Constituency, Hon. Mandela Obasi, in his question to the nominee, asked the nominee if he was happy the way Aba, the commercial nerve Centre of Abia, is.
However, the Speaker overruled him while asking the nominee what new thing he would bring to Abia if confirmed as a Commissioner.
The nominee said he would consult widely before taking any decision as a Commissioner so that his decisions would positively affect Abians.
At that point, the Speaker asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the Chamber.
The Sergeant-At-Arms ushered in the next Commissioner Nominee, Mr John Okoro.
The Speaker asked the nominee to introduce himself and identify his Representative.
The nominee introduced himself and identified the Lawmaker representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Mike Ukoha as his Representative.
The Lawmaker representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon Mike Ukoha, in his commendation concerning the nominee, said Mr John Okoro is a man that can deliver on any assignment.
“Mr Speaker, the nominee has the mandate of Arochukwu people and also my full Support”, he said.
The Speaker then proceeded to ask the Honourable Members for Questions.
The Lawmaker representing Umunneochi State Constituency solicited that the house go easy on the nominee because “he is a good man”.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, commended the nominee over his rich Curriculum Vitae.
“My question is very simple, you have a Masters Degree in Business Adminstration and Marketing, in any ministry the Governor may see fit to deploy you to, how can you use your wealth of experience to market this State?”
The nominee, Mr John Okoro, said he would bring his wealth of experience to help in marketing the State.
The Member representing Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency asked the nominee about his Unique Selling Point for the State.
The nominee said as a person, he would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the service of the State.
The Lawmaker representing Aba North State Constituency, Hon. Aaron Uzosike, asked the nominee what he would do if he was appointed Commissioner for Education.
The nominee said he would approach the assignment with every sense of seriousness.
The Speaker then said it was good to ask the nominee questions so that people would know more about him. He thereafter asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the chamber.
The Sergeant-At-Arms ushered in the next Commissioner Nominee, Mr Onyema Wachukwu.
The Speaker asked the nominee to introduce himself and identify his immediate Representative whom he named as Hon Ginger Onwusibe who asked the House to look the other way and allow him to take a “bow and go” moments after speaking briefly about the nominee’s profile.
However, the Speaker differed with the Honourable Lawmaker saying, “Member for Isialangwa, we would drill him here”.
The Lawmakers for Isiukwuato and Osisioma North State Constituencies asked the nominee his plans for Eradication of poverty and how to engage the youth if he is made the Commissioner for Youth.
The nominee, Mr Onyema Wachukwu, in his answers said he would apply every technology to engage the youth. “I believe that if we focus on that, honestly, I believe we would succeed”.
The Lawmaker representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon Barr Jerry Uzosike, also asked the nominee how he would carry the youths along in his office as a Commissioner.
Wachukwu assured the Lawmakers of his commitment to serve in any Ministry he is assigned saying, “My Honourable Member Ginger is a great example to me, I am not for Isialangwa people alone but for the entire State” even as he assured that he would never disappoint no matter what happens.
The Speaker in his remarks, urged the nominee to ensure that he carries the youth along in his new assignment after which he asked him to take a bow
The Speaker asked the nominee to introduce himself and identify his immediate Representative whom he named as Hon. Barr Emeka Okoroafor.
Hon. Emeka Okoroafor said he has the mandate of the people of Isuikwuato to present the nominee for screening.
The Lawmaker representing Osisioma Ngwa South State Constituency, Hon. Nnamdi Allen, in his question to the nominee asked how he would handle the issue of housing if he was made the A