Thugs attack lawmaker in Ebonyi

A member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Nnenna Nwene, was yesterday allegedly attacked by thugs for her role in the impeachment of the speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku.
This came as the state Commissioner of Police, Maigari Dikko, deployed policemen to the Assembly complex since the speaker was impeached last Monday.
The lawmaker, who represents Ohaozara East state constituency, was attacked as she was driving to the residence of a fellow member of the House, Ikechukwu Ogbu, who is in the camp of the new speaker, Helen Nwaobasi, who was installed yesterday.
Ogbu’s residence had served as a point of convergence for the 18 members loyal to the new speaker,  Nwaobasi.
Narrating her ordeal, Nwene said she was accosted as she was nearing Lawrence Onor Street, close to the residence of Ogbu, for a meeting with her colleagues.
“They poured dirty water on me and threatened to deal with me for joining in the impeachment of the former speaker,” she said.

She, however, said the incident, rather than weaken her, had further strengthened her resolve to stand firmly behind the new speaker and any other resolution reached by members of the State House of Assembly in favour of the new leadership.
Vanguard learnt that a top politician in the state (names withheld) allegedly doled out over N100 million to buy over some of the aggrieved members of the State House of Assembly to the side of the impeached speaker, even as there are strong indications that one of the lawmakers (names withheld)  left the camp of the new speaker after benefitting from the said largesse.
Meanwhile, controversy has continued to trail the impeachment of Nwazunku and his subsequent replacement with Nwaobasi by the members.
Nwazunku, speaking to reporters at his residence, hinted that members had resolved their differences and had agreed that he was still the speaker.
However, only six members were with him during the briefing, while 16 members were with the new speaker when she briefed reporters later, just as Nwaobasi also maintained that she remained the authentic speaker.
“You can count the members here with me, there is no going back and there is no compromise. I remain the speaker of Ebonyi State Assembly,” she said.


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