Welcome to another Legislative day at the Abia State House of Assembly.
Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji led the Principal Officers into the Hallowed Chamber.
Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu, Member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency led the opening prayer.
The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 8th March, 2021.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Speaker read out a letter from Hon Nnamdi Allen Nwachukwu, Member representing Osisioma Ngwa South State Constituency officially inviting Members to the funeral ceremony of his late father, Chief Allen Nwachukwu who passed on on11th June, 2020 and will be committed to mother earth on 9th of April, 2021 at Ugo Villa, Umuokiri Otuobi Autonomous Community in Osisioma Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.
MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.
Hon Stanley Nwabuisi, Member representing Ikwuano State Constituency brought up a Matter of Urgent Public Importance to the House about a boundary dispute between the people of Ariam Usaka Ukwu in Ikwuano Local Government Area and people from Ini Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.
The Lawmaker said lives have been lost and properties destroyed in Ariam Usaka Ukwu and that people of the area have lost 28 persons to the crisis. Hon Nwabuisi who noted that people of the area are law abiding said they have since halted retaliating against the people of Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Hon Stanley Nwabuisi therefore prayed that the House mandate security agencies in the State to act swiftly and decisively to stop the wanton killings of Abians in the skirmish.
He also prayed that the House Committee on Land and Boundary Commission to fashion out ways of averting further loss of lives and property in the concerned community.
RESOLUTION
After contributions from Members, the Speaker in an emotion laden voice said it’s very sad and pathetic that lives and property were being lost and destroyed between two sister States because of differences that could be resolved amicably. He went ahead to say that the State will no longer tolerate the gruesome murder of Abians in the name of any crisis
“We want to call on the State Commissionier of Police, Director of State Security Services, State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and other relevant agencies to step up their game in protecting the lives of Abians who are being massacred in their numbers with Ariam Usaka Ukwuwe having lost 28 people already without they at Ini Local Government Area losing any largely because of the peaceful disposition of those on Abia’s side of the divide.
“Tomorrow, if our people retaliate, it is ours that will make the most headlines. Now they are killing our people but nobody seems to be saying anything because we are generally known as peace loving people.
“It is only a tree that will stay in place in the midst of trouble and allow itself to be cut off; we will not advocate violence but we must defend ourselves.
“We are calling on the National Boundary Commission to, as a matter of urgency, if they have not yet been deployed, do the needful to bring this wanton deaths and destruction to an end. Our people must not be pushed to the wall to the extent that they have to defend themselves” the Speaker stated.
In the same vein, the Speaker urged the State Government to initiate contact with Government of the neighboring State to find a lasting solution to the attacks going on in Ikwuano Local Government Area.
“Enough is enough”, the Speaker concluded.
ORDER OF THE DAY
{1} Continuation of the Consideration of H.A.B. 30: The Abia State Water and Sewage Development Bill, 2020, in the Committee of the Whole.
{2} Continuation of the Consideration of H.A.B. 21: A Bill for a Law to Establish Abians in Diaspora Commission.
{3} Consideration of H.A.B. 6: A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Consumer Protection Agency.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
In a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Hon Solomon Akpulonu and seconded by the Minority Leader, the House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the following :
i. Continuation of the Consideration of H.A.B. 30: The Abia State Water and Sewage Development Bill, 2020.
After amendments and corrections of the pages of H.A.B. 30: The Abia State Water and Sewage Development Bill, 2020, the House reverted back to full Plenary after a Motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Abraham Oba.
At plenary, the Speaker reported proceedings at the Committee of the Whole which was final deliberations and corrections on the pages of the H.A.B. 30: The Abia State Water and Sewage Development Bill, 2020.
Other items on the Order Paper were deferred to be considered on another Legislative day.
ADJOURNMENT
Hon Solomon Akpulonu, Majority Leader of the House, moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative day.
The Minority Leader seconded the motion.
Plenary was adjourned to Monday, 15th March 2021.
Courtesy: Media Unit Office of the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly.
