Front line Sociopolitical group, Vanguard For Good Governance says it received with immense satisfaction and excitement, the removal of Hon. Elvert Ayambem as Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, on grounds of incompetence and misappropriation of public funds.
In a statement issued in calabar and signed by its State Coordinator, Ntufam Edim Ekpo, the group described the removal of the Speaker as triumph for democracy and a reflection of the House of Assembly’s independence as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the statement, “we received with great satisfaction the unanimous removal of Hon. Elvert Ayambem as Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly by a 2/3rd majority of the house. The removal of Hon. Elvert on grounds of gross Incompetence and misappropriation of public funds, marks a paradigm shift from what use to be a conglomeration of puppeteers parading as Congressmen, to a more proactive, independent-minded and result-oriented House of Assembly”
While calling for a holistic investigation into the allegations against the erstwhile Speaker, the group further called on Governor Prince Bassey Otu, to respect the decision of the State Assembly and allow them the privilege of electing a New Speaker, as any attempt by the Governor to coerce or intimidate the State Assembly members into reinstating Hon. Elvert Ayambem, would spell doom and anarchy for the state Assembly and the entire State.
“While we applaud the courage of the assembly members, who are today, our heroes of Democracy, we call for a holistic investigation into the allegations against him, and further more, implore the Governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the People’s First Governor, to listen to the voice of reason and allow the State members elect a New Speaker.
While we are not oblivious of the fact that the only reason Elvert Ayambem was considered for the position of Speaker was because of the need to compensate the people of Ikom Local Government Area, we wish to remind the Governor that as today, his own local Government Area has the rare privilege of producing him as Governor, alongside the Senator Representing Southern Senatorial District and Member Representing Odukpani/Calabar Municipality. As at today, anybody can become the Speaker of the House, having spent almost 11months in the House, it is trite to say that such a person must have understood and understudied the processes and proceedings of the House.
Lastly, we wish to remind the Governor that any attempt to reinstate Elvert Ayambem, will breed mistrust between Elvert and other members of the State Assembly, especially the G17 members that signed his impeachment. The Governor must not allow himself drawn into an unnecessary fiasco with members of the State Assembly, where one party may be forced to see the other as being overbearing and inconsiderate of the other’s demand and decision.
We call on him to foster the unity of the State Assembly by ensuring that the wish and yearning of the State Assembly members is respected, by allowing them elect a new Speaker”
