I quit as speaker for third term bid - Legislator

Incumbent Imo State House of Assembly Speaker Kennedy Ibe has revealed that he has resigned as Speaker of the State Legislature to allow him to pursue his third candidacy for re-election.

Ibe spoke during a meeting with the state governor, Hope Uzodiinma, at the government headquarters in Owerri, following the emergence of a new president, Emeka Nduka.

A statement released by the governor's chief press secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, revealed that Ibe was grateful to his colleagues for the opportunity to chair the assembly.

Ibe reigned supreme on Monday, paving the way for a new speaker to emerge.

The statement revealed that the meeting with the governor gave the former speaker of the assembly an opportunity to explain why he resigned from office.

Ibe, who represents Obowo State Constituency, told the state assembly that he needed time to continue his election campaign ahead of the 2023 general election. Noting that his successor, Nduka, is the most suitable for the position now, "because he is not standing for election."

Uzodimma told the rally, which included political figures, APC state officials and other heads of government agencies, that the rally was a deliberate way to bond members of the three branches of government for greater productivity.

The governor said he had brought together all arms of government to “reassess themselves and their performance in IMO politics and access their successes and failures.

>

"The mix of identities has been the problem, but among the top brass of the party, the decision and determination is to make the place called Imo State a friendly place to live."

The governor added that the objective of the party and its members is to have a meeting point where they must agree and review their work and ensure that they are functioning well and effectively.< /p>

Uzodimma, who called the day special, thanked the Imo State Assembly leaders and members, as well as the state leaders who had been with him since 2020 and reminded them that "democracy has come to stay and it will be best practiced and consumed when politicians understand each other better.”

He reminded everyone that as a political family, they should function as a network where people can identify with them and see them as those working together for a common interest and goal.

He urged aggrieved party members, who did not win a primary ticket, not to complain, to implore them and all those who are aggrieved, "consider the sense of reasoning, forgive and forget and join hands to achieve the greater goal of winning elections for the party."

Adding that he had tried to put on the ground some observable achievements necessary for the party candidates to convince the people of Imo State and even the opposition to support them and vote for them in the elections, emphasizing that the gains have been recorded through the 3Rs mantra of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery.

Uzodimma said: "As a leader, my responsibilities are to bring respect and dignity to the party and its members. I recognize the essence of the separation of powers in a democracy, and what makes democracy thick and strong is the separation of powers clause – executive, legislative and judicial.”

“However, in each stratum there must be a head and as such the chief executive is the head of the three branches of government.”

“It is important that the branches of government realize the need to forge a united front and a common goal that will help the government in power achieve its vision and mission.” He added.

The Governor reiterated his confidence in the Nigerian project and urged the assembly to: "Ask relevant questions about where we are, where we want to go and how can we get to where we want to go?"< /p>

He added that “Nigeria is a federation, the Igbos and the South East are just a unifying unit. The rest of Nigeria can form a quorum and also have two-thirds who can dissolve the meeting. The consequences of this are that Nigeria can move on without us, so we need Nigeria more than Nigeria needs us. »

The governor encouraged all the people of the Southeast, to work hard and defend their positions today so that they will be remembered positively by generations to come.