‘Abia House Of Assembly Not A Rubber Stamp’

The Peoples Democratic Party’s National Vice Chairman, South-East, Retired Col. Austin Akobundu, yesterday dispelled insinuations that the Abia State House of Assembly was a rubber stamp of the state executive.

Akobundu, who said this in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia, said that the Abia legislators were among the most cohesive and vibrant lawmakers in the country.

Dispelling the insinuation of “buy-over’’ he said “it is easy to say this from the outside.’’

“But if you have been part of their deliberations, how they arrive at the decisions they take in support of the executive, you will know the insinuation is not correct.’’

“They have had stormy sessions in the house but at the point of reaching a decision, they all come together to arrive at a decision in support of the state government in the best interest of the state.’’

“I don’t accept the belief in some quarters that they are a rubber stamp of the state governor,” he said.

Akobundu rather described the Abia House of Assembly as “a stable institution working in partnership with the executive arm of government in making sure dividends of good governance do not elude those at the grassroots.’’

“They have not only maintained stability but have brought experience to bear in support of the government,” he said.

The PDP national leader said that his job in the zone was to ensure that there was cohesion among members of the PDP.