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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Solomon Akpulonu, has chided the Speaker of the House, Hon Emmanuel Emereuwa, over his purported suspension from the House. He described the move as a failed attempt to intimidate the opposition in the House.
The Speaker had earlier announced the suspension of Hon Akpulonu, a member representing Obingwa East State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, for 14 sitting days.
Making the pronouncement on the floor of the House, Emeruwa said the 8th Abia House of Assembly cannot tolerate acts of insubordination, alleging that Hon. Akpulonu has been inciting members of the House against its leadership.
The Speaker said it was wrong for the lawmaker to be granting press interviews and revealing all the House activities without proper clearance from the leadership of the House.
Although Akpulonu was not in the House when the decision was taken, however, the Speaker said the decision of the House would be communicated to the lawmaker.
Reacting, Akpulonu expressed surprise that a legislator would be suspended for talking to the press and applying a peaceful means in agitating for the right thing to be done in the state House of Assembly.
He said that as leader of the main opposition party in the state, he was not expected to keep quiet and watch things done the wrong way.
“I am an opposition leader. I am the leader of the PDP Caucus so nobody can intimidate me. Even the Speaker can not intimidate me. I am not perturbed.
“What am saying is that what the Labour Party and the Speaker are doing is wrong. There is no way the Majority will become Minority.
“I will not be intimidated, even if he likes, let the Speaker suspend me for the rest of the term, I will always stand on the path of the truth.
Wondering why his case could be different as he was not the only member that has been speaking to the press, Akpulonu promised to consult his party, the PDP on the matter.
