Abia State House of Assembly Monday ordered an investigation into the petition brought by the member representing Ohafia South constituency Chief Uchendu Ifeanyi, by setting up an ad hoc committee to probe the reported hoisting of a sign post with the inscription “Fulani Republic” near the Ohafia Army Barracks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Uchendu told the House that the said sign post posed threat to peace to his constituents hence the impression created by it was that the herdsman had taken over that portion of land where they grazed their cattle especially as it was close to or is even part of the land allotted to the Army.
While setting the terms for the committee, which has Chief Chikwendu Kanu representing Isiala Ngwa South Constituency as chairman and tasked it to submit its report next Wednesday, the Speaker said the assignment includes to establish if the said ‘Fulani Republic’ was part of the Army land, who owned it and how the Fulanis came into its alleged occupation.
The implication of the investigation, according to the members was to dispel the rumor that the Army may have allowed the herdsmen part of its land to graze their cattle.
Also, the House commenced the screening of 20 commissioner-nominees of the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
Before commencing the screening, the members at plenary formerly endorsed the governor’s written request for their approval to appoint additional 25 special advisers, which number would add to those earlier approved for the governor by the immediate past members of the fifth Assembly.
The Speaker, Martins Azubuike, had asked members to formally confirm their approval of the governor’s request which they did at committee level for which the members in unison reacted positively by voice vote.
During the exercise, one of commissioner-nominees Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, who was former councillor and chairman of Umuahia North local council, told the lawmakers that there is a lot of rot in the state local government system, indicating that if assigned the Local Government Ministry portfolio by the governor, he will sanitise the system.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/11/assembly-orders-probe-of-fulani-republic-in-abia/
