By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Akwa Ibom has commended the Governor Udom Emmanuel, and State Assembly Speaker Barr Aniekan Bassey, on the reinstating the Vice-Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Council, Mr. Abasiama Etukakpan.
Etukakpan was impeached by the Oruk Anam Legislative Council for alleged false declaration of age though observers believed the action was political after he was alleged to have received a car gift from a guber prospect in the state.
A statement endorsed by the organisation’s Chairman and State Secretary, Mr Franklyn Isong and Barr Christopher Ekpo respectively, weekend and made available to newsmen in Uyo the group also applauded the members of the State Assembly, for carrying out a thorough investigation into the matter and being guided by the relevant provisions of the Local Government (Administration) Law.
“The human rights group also applauded the members of the House of Assembly, particularly the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for carrying out a thorough investigation into the matter and providing the House of Assembly with a recommendation guided by the relevant provisions of the Local Government (Administration) Law of Akwa Ibom State.” It said.
The CLO had following the purported impeachment and removal condemned the total disregard for the Rule of Law by the Oruk Anam Legislators in carrying out the purported impeachment to having not complied with Section 44 of the Local Government (Administration) Law and had urged the Assembly to nullify the impeachment.
They had also urged the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to conduct regular training and retraining of elected Local Government Council officials in order to save the State from a repeat of such avoidable embarrassment in future.
