The member representing Ayamelum constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Bernard Udemezue, has attributed his current battle with the assembly to his open and transparency stance to representation.
Udemezue stated this while reacting to the resolution by the House summoning him to explain his recent posts on social media.
The Assembly considered the posts as damaging and capable of breaching peace and orderliness.
Responding to the summons, Udemezue said, “I posted my constituency empowerment fund and my overhead allowance on my personal account.
“I promised my people before the election that I would be transparent.
“I swore to God, that if I was contesting for my selfish gain, let me not win. If I’m contesting for the general interest of my people, he should please not let me lose.
“And miraculously, God made me win a sitting Speaker as nobody from nowhere.
I posted to my people on my own platform that this is what I get as overhead allowance for my personal use and this is what I get for you, which used to be 7.5 million quarterly. Recently, it was increased to 10 million every three months. And I updated them.
Diversion of constituency funds
Udemezue said his colleagues are feeling unsafe because they have not been using the money meant for their constituencies for intended purposes.
“They are not ready to give this money meant for their constituents to them, because they wanted to keep it for themselves, they are not happy about the revelation. They wanted it to be a secret so that you can do whatever you want.
“None of them is using this money for their people. None. They keep the money for themselves.
The lawmaker contended the assembly is unpopular because it has not prioritized the people.
“And I’ve advised them several times that this assembly is not popular simply because we are not doing what we are supposed to do. We are not making the right laws.
“Our duties as House of Assembly members include, one, lawmaking, two, representation, three, oversight. Which of them are we doing effectively? he queried.
Is it this Udogachi that is terrorizing the state that we have been able to oversight properly?
They want to investigate what I posted. Have they investigated the excesses of Udogachi?
Removal as chairman
The lawmaker alleged that he was removed as the Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security because of his findings during an unscheduled visit to Udogachi’s office.
“I paid an unexpected visit for an on-the-spot assessment of what is going on at Udogachi’s office. And what I saw, I cannot say for now.
“I told the Speaker that this is not acceptable. We have to invite these people and put them in check. We have to check these people. They said, if you do it, it will be an embarrassment to the government. I said, I will not accept this.
The house had earlier summoned the member representing Ayamelum Constituency, Bernard Udemezue for sharing damaging contents on social media.
Udemezue posted the letter of summon signed by the Chairman, Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Ikenna Ofodeme, on his facebook page.
The House passed the resolution following a matter of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Aguata 2 constituency, Tony Mobike during plenary in Awka.
Muobike contended that the lawmaker’s comments on social media did not only damage the reputation of the House, but also threaten the safety of House members.
He prayed the House to investigate into the matter to avoid further escalation.
Supporting the motion, Noble Igwe of Ogbaru 1 Constituency, drew the attention of the house to Order Seven of the House’s Standing Order, asking the House to take a decision on her member who has allegedly abused such Privileges.
He said the post of Udemezue is capable of causing breach of public peace and threat to other colleagues’ lives, hence the need to address the matter to avoid being escalated.
The Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze who presided over the plenary, had during plenary, referred the matter to House Committee which is expected to report back to the House on Tuesday next week.
