Penultimate Thursday, 13th June, 2019, the members 9th Assembly of the Imo State House of Assembly began by electing Principal officers to run their affairs for the next four years. Rt. Hon Chiji Collins who previously defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the House.
One remarkable thing about the whole process was that it was rancour free and Imolites who thronged in their thousands to the Assembly Complex went home satisfied that the current House will do well.
But it is one thing to conduct a rancour-free exercise and another thing to manage the different interests within the House.
And this is where the administrative acumen of the Speaker and other Principal officers will come to test. Recall that the last House witnessed so much turbulence and ended in a disgraceful manner.
The current House must avoid the pitfalls that characterized the tenure of their predecessors.
Having said that, Daily Nigerian Horn believes that with the seemingly maturity exhibited by the members during inauguration, the 9th House of Assembly will live up to the expectations of Imo people.
But in doing this, they must avoid the pitfalls pandering to the whims and caprices of the Executive.
Recall that the last House were termed as rubber stamp of the executive and this must be avoided at all cost. With their now majority in the House, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state will like to impose their authority on the House without due to recourse to the doctrine of separation of powers.
Though the House may acquiesce, Imo people will resist this. Consequently, the House is condemned to enact laws and bills that will better the affairs of majority of Imo people not for a few.
They must bear in mind that those who elected them who live in remote areas of the state will look up to them to attract projects that will uplift their standards.
One area that the current House could assist is in the area of rural roads as most communities in the state suffer so much due to bad roads. Another area is creation of job opportunities for millions of Imo youths that are unemployed.
If they are able to achieve this, their names will be written in gold.
NIGERIAHORNImo 9th Assembly and the challenges ahead
