In a popular decision Honourable Peter Onwusanya, former Deputy Chief Whip, representing Oshimili South, emerged the new Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, thus replacing Victor Ochei who resigned barely 48 hours ago to stave off an inevitable impeachment. Ochei was accused of high-handedness, arrogance and self-conceited aloofness which placed him against a House he was “supposed to be a father to”, a member of the House told our correspondent in a phone conversation.
Snippets from the House suggested that a majority of the members had signed up an impeachment document circulated among members preparatory to the removal of the former speaker who is also one of the contenders for the governorship position of the state in the 2015 election. He was said to have fallen out of favour with many people in the state for allegedly handling the Independent Power Project (IPP) poorly, an action, a source said, has infuriated the governor.
“The problem of Ochei was that he started very well but got intoxicated with power. He forgot that as speaker he is nothing but best among equals but he was beginning to act as if his constituency elected him speaker, no, we made him speaker in this chamber and when we found him unbearable, we were ready to shove him out but he was smart, he resigned ahead of time”, a member who pleaded not to be named told our correspondent.
With the new development, Ochei will now pursue his gubernatorial ambition with more vigour. However, there were indications that he may be compelled to answer to various allegations bordering on financial management standing against his name.
His resignation prompted celebration among staff of the State Assembly, an indication that he may not have been popular with both the lawmakers and the staff of the state’s legislative arm.
