It is no longer news that the Majority leader of the current 6th Abia House of Assembly and distinguished Honourable member, representing the good people of Umuahia Central, Chief Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji is gradually becoming the Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly as the inauguration day in June is approaching.
The Speaker of the House, who is the third citizen of the State after the Governor and his Deputy serves as the presiding officer of the State House of Assembly. He fulfills several roles, including representing constituents as a Member of the Assembly, acting as administrative head among others. The Speaker is saddled with various other responsibilities including maintainance of order within the House chamber, appointing special committees, spare-heading oversight functions and law making and other tasks . These and other duties are things and activities that Chief Orji is at home with, especially with his experience as the Majority Leader. Most importantly too, this quintessential leader of our time is capable of closing the gap between the government and the people who the members are representing.
A Speaker of the House of Assembly is expected to be outspoken intelligent and accommodating. He should have a sense of responsibility and should parade an unparalleled aura of confidence. The Speaker should be a good mobilizer, a man who carries his colleagues along as well as builds sustainable bridges between the legislature and the executive so as to drive home dividends of democracy to the electorates. The Speaker should also be an acceptable personally among all spheres of members of the society, including the youths, market women, student bodies, Traditional Rulers, clergy men among others. And this is what Chief Chinedum Orji represents. IKUKUOMA ABIA is well known and celebrated across the three Senatorial zones of Abia State, this identity would make him woo people to see reasons to see things from the prism of government of the day as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. This character would certainly help the House to reach out to the grassroots with a view to knowing the effects of government policies, actions and inactions so as to come up with good legislation that would better the lots of the people of the State.
All over the globe, politicians come in different shades and forms. Some come to the political stage lazy, arrogant, disrespectful and power drunk while others come to the political stage industrious, disciplined, respectful, accommodating among others. IKUKUOMA ABIA belongs to the later. Anyone who knows Hon. Chinedum Orji would testify that leadership fits him because of various obvious reasons. He is a goal getter and one who is capable of changing the narrative of the House leadership for better.
It is imperative to stress that Hon. (Engr.) Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, since his emergence as the Majority Leader of the State House has brought stability to the Abia State House of Assembly and is more committed to doing that as a Speaker .
Fortunately, both the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the House Rules authorize the House to choose their Speaker, who is selected by vote of the members on the first day of every first meeting known as inaugural sitting.
Hence, in strict compliance to the equity Abia State is known for and particularly, the PDP, which has the majority of 19 members out of 24 is preaching, the Speakership naturally is microzoned to the Ikwuano/ Umuahia extraction of Abia Central; since the three Local Government Areas of Ngwa extraction has held the position in the current 6th Assembly that is now expiring next month (Started from Isialangwa North-Martins Azubuike, Osisioma-Kennedy Njoku and Isialangwa South- Chikwendu Kalu-the incumbent). The Ikwuano/ Umuahia bloc is to hold the position in the forthcoming dispensation.
Eventhough, there is no law against a ‘first timer’ occupying the position, the Ikwuano /Umuahia extraction has five members elect of the House, two of them (Ikwuano and Umuahia South State Constituency members) are ‘first timers’ and would not think of contesting the position, whereas members from Umuahia Central, Umuahia East and South Umuahia North State Constituencies are ranking members. Of course, both that of Umuahia East and Umuahia North State Constituencies do not have interest in the Speakership position. It is based on these analysis that the pendulum is naturally and freely swinging to the side and favour of the distinguished
Member, representing the good people of Umuahia Central and the current Majority Leader of the House, Chief Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, IKUKUOMA ABIA.
There is no doubt that Members-elect are very honourable and know the stuff, IKUKUOMA ABIA is made of and would want him to lead the 7th House as the Speaker. Let these members of the House rise to the occasion and install a visionary leader, a man of his words, an integrity personified and the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. (Engr.) Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji as the Speaker of the 7th House of Assembly, after all, the cap fits him!
