• Suspend ex-speaker, ex-majority leader

From Paul Osuyi, Asaba

Attempts by power brokers in Delta State, to reverse the impeachment of Mr. Monday Igbuya, as speaker of the House of Assembly, was rebuffed by the 22 lawmakers, yesterday.
Igbuya was impeached by 22, out of the 29-member House.
The impeachment wind also swept away Majority Leader, Tim Owhefere, who represents Isoko North Constituency.
Deputy Speaker, Friday Osanebi, presided over plenary where the two principal officers were removed and subsequently suspended for three months.
The lawmakers accused Igbuya, who represents Sapele Constituency, of incompetence and high handedness, among others.
In his place, Sheriff Oborevwori, a first term member representing Okpe Constituency, was elected speaker while Johnson Erijo, who has been in the House since 1999, representing Isoko South Constituency II, was elected new majority leader.
In his acceptance speech, the new speaker promised to adhered to the rules of House, and said as first among equals, he would accord every member due respect.
Oborevwori said he would “not allow the integrity of the House to be depleted” and called for their support.
He, immediately, announced the dissolution of all standing committees.
Shortly after Iguya’s impeachment and subsequently election of Oborevwori, the lawmakers went to Government House to introduce the new leadership to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
But, there was a twist, as former governor James Ibori attempted to broker peace at a meeting between Igbuya, political leaders in Urhobo nation, Okowa and the 22 lawmakers.
Governor Okowa, who was a senator in the Seventh Senate, was said to have taken the stakeholders at the meeting through a parliamentary course and submitted that it was not right to reverse Igbuya’s impeachment.
“The impeachment stands and there is no course for alarm, we have every thing under control,” one of the 22 lawmakers who was at the meeting told Daily Sun on telephone, yesterday evening.
Igbuya, who was elected speaker on June 8, 2015, was already planning his second year anniversary before yesterday’s ouster.
He had survived about three impeachment plots in the past.
But, the latest plot succeeded because some members accused him of “incompetence, highhandedness and unacceptable style of leadership.”
Under an order of Urgent Matters of Public Importance, Johnson Erijo moved the motion for Igbuya’s impeachment, and said for the House to move forward, a new speaker was needed as the state legislature was key to the growth of democracy and development of the state.
His motion was seconded by the immediate past Speaker, Peter Onwusanya (Oshimili South) and unanimously adopted, following which the deputy speaker called for nomination of the new speaker.
The House, in the absence of any other item on the Order Paper, adjourned sitting to May 23, 2017.
Regardless, there was subdued jubilation among staff, who gathered in clusters, discussing the impeachment.
They expressed joy, and said “the impeachment was divine,” to liberate them from bad governance.