24hrs after Imo Speaker’s suspension, his Deputy resigns

The Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Ugonna Ozurigbo, on Thursday resigned his position in the house.

His resignation is coming about 24 hours after the Speaker of the House, Acho Ihim and the majority leader, Lugard Osuji, were suspended.

The lawmakers had appointed Chinedu Offor (Onuimo) as the acting Speaker and Lloyd Chukwuemeka (Owerri North) as the interim Majority Leader.

On Thursday however, the Deputy Speaker, in a letter dated May 15 but submitted to the office of the Clark of the Assembly on May 16, said he had to resign immediately In order to concentrate to function as a House of Representative-elect.

He had won the House of Representatives seat for Nwangele, Nkwerre, Isu, Njaba federal constituency of the state in the last general election.

“As you already know, I have been sent to another four years mission by my federal constituency in Imo state, at the federal House of Representatives, Abuja.

“This new task has come with its own challenges and expectations, especially need to play key roles in the formation of the National Assembly leadership, and time to strategically position, to pursue the greater interests of Imo state, South East and Nigeria, at the federal legislature. Currently, these will make my availability in Imo state irregular.

“Hence, I seek your undertaking as I either save the office of Imo State Deputy Speaker by resigning or allow my new engagements to suffer the office of Imo State Deputy Speaker by holding same tenaciously.

“Thus, for your efficiency and the good of Imo people, I hereby resign as the Rt Hon. Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly (8th House), effective from the date written above,” Ozuruigbo stated in his letter.

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Ozuruigbo had won the March 9, House of Assembly election for Nwangele, Nkwerre, Isu, Njaba federal constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is one of the fresh Reps-elect that will form part of the 9th National Assembly.

There are speculations however that his sudden resignation is not unconnected with the crisis rocking the state Assembly.

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