By Austin Ogwuda
Delta State House of Assembly has issued a 24 hour ultimatum to the Management of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, within which to reinstate a female lecture who was demoted to Principal Assistant Registrar or face the wrath of the House.
The lecturer, Mrs Grace Adah, following the said demotion had sent a petition to the House under the 7th Assembly which was then presided over by Rt Hon Sherrif Oborevwori, presently the governor of Delta State.
The House that time after considering the petition ordered that she be re-designated as Lecturer I, as far back as in January 2023, which was flouted and not complied with.
At a crucial meeting with the management team of the Polytechnic on Tuesday (today), the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Arthur Akpowowo who doubles as the Chairman, Legislative Compliance Committee frowned against the brazen disobedience of House resolutions, warning that it can no longer tolerate such henceforth.
Other members of the Committee include the Majority Leader, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, Minority leader, Hon. Edafe Emakpor and Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Festus Okoh.
While threatening to invoke relevant sections of the legislative Rules, the Committee members directed the management team led by its Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu, to, within the next 24 hours, furnish the Committee with a letter conveying compliance of the directive (reinstatement).
The Committee during the meeting remarked that, “in your (Rector) letter which you sent to us, it was obvious that you were not ready to implement our resolution.
“Our duty as a Committee is to ensure that we do justice to every case that is reported to the State Assembly. By your letter, it is evident that you do not have respect for this House. There was certainly no reason for you to have replied us in the manner and tone as contained in your letter.
“We have sent several letters to you. This is our last meeting with you on this matter, you have between now and tomorrow to implement our resolution, otherwise….” Akpowowo said.
In his response, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu while tendering an apology on behalf of the management of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, promised to comply with the resolution as directed, to wit: immediate reinstatement and reappraisal of the sanction placed on one of its staff, Mrs. Grace Adah of the Department of Academic planning.
…. Passes a resolution calling on Governor to intervene over herdsmen attacks
In another development, The Delta State House of Assembly, Tuesday, adopted a resolution calling on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to as a matter of urgency, act swiftly to halt incessant attacks by herdsmen across various communities, particularly in Uwheru and environs, in Ughelli North local government area.
The House worried by the rising spate of insecurity in the State urged the Governor to direct relevant security agencies to rise up to the challenge.
The resolution came following a Motion raised under Matters of Urgent Public Importance at Tuesday’s plenary by the member representing Ughelli North II State Constituency, Hon. Spencer Owhofa, presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor.
He noted that the motion had become imperative following a recent attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen on residents of Uwheru community where a farmer was brutally murdered by the suspected herdsmen as well as inflicting injuries on several others.
It was seconded by the member representing Ughelli North 1, Hon. Matthew Omonade and unanimously adopted, after rigorous debates on its merits.
The resolution is calling on the Governor, Rt Hon Oborevwori to compel the State Commissioner of Police and other relevant government agencies to investigate, arrest and bring to book the herdsmen who invaded Uwheru community on Monday, February 5, 2024 in Ughelli local government area where one Mr. Ikupeni was killed during the annual fishing festival.
Ohwofa while saying that the killing, harassment and rape of residents of Uwheru community by suspected Fulani herdsmen has become an annual embarrassment, warned that the sad narratives could lead to breakdown of law and order in the locality if urgent measures were not taken.