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Cross River State House of Assembly Saga: Hon. Cyril Omini's Many Unpardonable Sins

 

.....By Umezulike Desmond-cruz

Yesterday, the Cross River State cyberspace was awash with information suggesting that the Honourable Member Representing Yakurr 1 State Constituency, Hon. Cyril Omini, has been unceremoniously "ousted" as Chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee; while such development is not alien to the modus operandi of legislative business, it does appear that the removal of Hon. Cyril Omini as Committee Chairman, ruffled not a few feathers, especially amongst young people in the State.

Whereas, it is within the constitutional prerogative of the Speaker to reshuffle the membership and headship of committees in the house, whenever it is imperative to do so, the removal of Cyril Omini has continued to generate uproar and suspicion, especially given the fact that the reasons adduced for his removal, appear to have defile all logical reasoning. The Speaker was quoted to have removed the honourable member on grounds of gross misconduct and absenteeism–quite ambiguous a claim, if you ask me. What exactly is this misconduct that has made the speaker use a sledgehammer? What could be so unpardonable a sin that would warrant such a draconic measure? Why was the Speaker in such a hurry to remove Honourable Cyril Omini, even when the investigative panel set up by the speaker, is yet to conclude their assignment? These and many more are the unanswered questions on the lips of many. 

This is not me holding brief for either the Speaker nor Hon. Cyril Omini. Anyone can choose to believe anything, but one thing has remained undisputed about Hon. Cyril Omini: he is one of the very best and most consistent–in service delivery– assembly member alive today; hence, not out of place for people to readily assume that Hon. Cyril Omini–by his stellar performance–must have invited the lizards to a feast by carrying an insect infested firewood. What other sin can be more unpardonable than seeing an "ordinary" House of Assembly member outperforming all his colleagues put together? What else can be more unpardonable than seeing a fellow Assembly member facilitate the building of roads in his Constituency, construction of Civic Centers, massive financial support and grants for Small and Medium Enterprises, Payment of School fees for Law School Students, Jamb Registrations, Donation of Cars and Motorcycles to Constituents, Provision of Boreholes, Payment of Medical bills and facilitating Medical Outreach for Constituents. What else can be so unpardonable than fulfilling your promise to your Constituents, in an assembly where other members seem to have forgotten the roads to their Villages?

While the aforementioned sins are "unpardonable" it is important to stress that the removal of Hon. Cyril Omini appears to have sent a bad signal, as Cross Riverians– especially young people–believe that he is being victimized for daring to be different. I honestly hope that this has nothing to do with 2027 election or the botched impeachment saga that greeted the assembly last year. A case of the Honourable Speaker trying to take his own pound of flesh. At least, in all fairness, Hon. Cyril Omini deserves fair hearing too. Why suspend a man on mere accusation when the panel is yet to conclude their investigation and submit their report? Isn't it also worrisome a fact that while Hon. Cyril Omini appears to be in support of Senator Eteng Jones return to the Senate, the speaker is alleged to be more amenable to Oden Ewa's aspiration to be Senator. Could this be an extension of the Central Senatorial District political tussle ahead of 2027?

While Politics is a game of intrigues and wits, I honestly think that this infighting and cold war, would rather do more harm than good to the government even as we go into the 2027 election. I call on His Excellency, the Governor, to please intervene and restore normalcy to the house, as we cannot afford to have our assembly members on dagger-drawn against one another. I think that assembly members like CY should be encouraged to do more, rather than being reportedly victimized. What else is the season of sweetness without assembly members like CY complimenting the good works of the Governor? Imagine if we can have someone like CY in each of the 18 LGAs, I am cocksure that the fragrance of this season of sweetness will spread faster to all the nooks and crannies of the state. We must therefore, as a state, stop the killing of our own prophets–apologies to Bob Marley.

@highlight

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