By Tony Okafor, Awka
A total of 22 out of 30 members of the Anambra State 7th Assembly, including the Speaker, Uche Okafor, will not be part of the 8th Assembly to be inaugurated on June 12.
This was confirmed on Thursday as the Assembly held a valedictory session to wind down the 7th Assembly.
Our correspondent gathered that most of lawmakers were voted out in the keenly contested March elections occasioned by the effect of the OBIdient movement, while a few voluntarily withdrew from the race.
During his speech at the final plenary,
Speaker of the House,Dr Uche Okafor,
said the house in four years passed 50 bills, which he described as people-oriented and had brought about remarkable legislative improvement and service delivery in the state.
Okafor paid special tribute to the two members of the house who lost their lives in active service -Dr Okechukwu Okoye and Dr Nnamdi Okafor who represented Aguata 1Constituency and Awka South Constituency 1, respectively.
He said: “We have all being privileged with the task of representing our different constituencies in the last four years.
“And l’m happy to say that the seventh Assembly achieved some measures of success in the areas of number of Bills that were passed, motions moved, oversight functions and other legislative duties.
“We passed 50 people-oriented and landmark Bills and I want to appreciate my colleagues for their support, impactful constituency projects and empowerment programmes.
“The seventh Assembly can be adjudged to be peaceful as there were no impeachment threats or thoughts against the Speaker or other principal officers of the Assembly.
“We have laid a solid foundation in terms of character, commitment, dedication and leadership, and I urge the eighth Assembly to emulate and build upon this foundation as well as support Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, ” he said.
Okafor thanked his constituents and the former Governor of the state, Willie Obiano and the incumbent governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo for their support to the seventh Assembly.
The Speaker who would not be part of the eighth Assembly, also appreciated the lawmakers and staff of the Assembly for their support which made the feat possible.
The Legislators took turns to appreciate the leadership of the Speaker and also the support of Soludo and their constituents.
In his remarks, Soludo appreciated the legislators for conducting themselves peacefully and ensuring thorough scrutiny and oversight functions that had kept the executive on its toes.
Soludo who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, appreciated the Speaker for his outstanding leadership role and for ensuring cordial relationship between the two arms of government.
