Twist Over Moves To Recall Hon. Okolie From NASS As Constituents Gather Signatures

Moves to recall Hon. Ngozi Okolie, member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representative has taken a new dimensions as his constituents have started gathering signatures to recall him.

Hon. Okolie is facing recall threats from his constituents following their insistence on his reported non-performance, disregard for and estrangement from the constituency, alleged self-enrichment, failure to attract meaningful development projects to the Constituency as well as allegations of failure to give account of constituency development fund released to him at the National Assembly.

Already, the Concerned Citizens of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, a highly influential socio-political platform of citizens from the 58 communities in the Federal Constituency has commenced the gathering of signatures to effect Hon. Okolie’s recall from the House of Representatives

Chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Dr. Tony Curtis told newsmen on Friday that the collection of signatures for Hon. Okolie’s recall is on top gear stressing that the constituents have completely lost confidence in the embattled lawmaker.

Curtis further confirmed that the constitutionally required one-half of the registered voters in the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency are in favor of Hon Okolie’s recall adding that the constituency would soon transmit the requisite petition for the recall to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Section 110 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that; a member of the House of Assembly may be recalled as such a member if;

“(a) there is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission a petition in that behalf signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member; and

“(b) the petition is thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission within ninety days of the date of the receipt of the petition, approved by a simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency.”

Shedding more light on the matter, Curtis further confirmed that the move to recall Hon. Okolie is the decision of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency and that it is beyond party lines. He said even members of Hon. Okolie’s Labour Party and other apolitical citizens are in support of his recall.

According to Curtis, “I can confirm to you there is no going back on the process the recall Hon. Okolie from the House of Representatives. The people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency have completely lost confidence in him and we are speaking with one voice.

“We have the constitutionally required one-half of the total number of voters in the constituency in support of the recall. We have been consulting on the petition and very soon we will transmit it to INEC for action as required by law. This is democracy in action. This is not about politics, this is not about party, it is about the wellbeing and future of our people.

“Hon. Okolie has shown that he is not a fit and proper individual to represent our Constituency in the House of Representatives. He has no regard for our people, he is not executing any meaningful development projects, he lacks accountability and appears to prioritise personal enrichment at the expense of his constituents and we cannot allow this to continue. Our people are now resolute in their decision to recall him and nothing can change this resolve” Curtis said.

Reports have it that the move to recall Hon. Okolie gained momentum after his self-organized media event, where he was reportedly confronted by journalists on his alleged disconnection from the constituency, failure to attract or execute serious infrastructural and empowerment programs and purportedly claiming credit for projects done by other people. Okolie had reportedly admitted that he had done only “one or two things” since assumption of seat 18 months ago.