Youth Protest Non-Swearing-In Of Legislator

At least 1000 youths in Owerri on Wednesday protested
against the failure of the Imo State House of Assembly to swear-in Mr Eugene
Dibiagwu, representing Oguta in the assembly.

The youths, who carried placards with various inscriptions
staged their protest in front of the Assembly before matching along Owerri-Port
Harcourt road.

Some of the placards read: “Swear-in Hon. Dibiagwu”; “No
dibiagwu, no oil production”; “Dibiagwu is our choice” and “Don’t deny Oguta
people their right of representation”.

Reports say that the swearing-in of the assemblyman-elect
was earlier scheduled for Wednesday but later postponed to August 29.

The gate to the Assembly premises was locked while mobile
policemen, soldiers and members of the Civil Defence Corps positioned
themselves at strategic spots around the area.

Assemblyman Acho Ihim, the Chairman of the assembly committee
on information, in a radio announcement, said the plenary was postponed to
avert possible breakdown of law and order in the parliament.

Dibiagwu won the re-run election for the Oguta State
Constituency on the platform of the PDP.

The ruling APGA, however, boycotted the election, insisting
that the constituency election was still in court.

Spokesperson of the youths, Mr Kyrian Udeagwu, said they
were in the assembly to witness the swearing-in ceremony of their son, but were
surprised at what happened.

Udeagwu said they were disappointed that the swearing-in was
postponed through a radio announcement and were equally prevented from entering
the premises.

“The whole people here are members of different political
parties from Oguta who have come to cheer up their son today, but the security
agents have warded us off,” he said.

Reacting, the Assemblyman-elect said it was very unfortunate
that the ceremony was postponed without genuine reasons.

Dibiagwu, who said he had not been duly communicated about
the postponement, pointed out that his guests travelled from various parts of
the country to Owerri in vain.

“The speaker invited me to be sworn-in today, but up till
now, nobody has officially told me that it has been put off.

“I don’t know why and it is really unfortunate but I believe
democracy is growing strong,” he added.