The Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, John Gaul-Lebo, says
the social media reports that the house has resolved to impeach
Gov. Ben Ayade over his recent trip abroad is fake.
Gaul-Lebo said on Wednesday in Calabar that the house had never
contemplated any move to impeach the governor, contrary to the said
media reports.
“The house of assembly is not contemplating to impeach the
governor; there is no plan like that.
“What I read on social media is that the governor had travelled
out of the country and that it is an impeachable offence.
“Section 190 of the constitution only contemplates a situation
where the governor proceeds on either annual leave or medical
vacation.
“It states that where the governor is unable to perform his
duties, he should transmit a letter to the house that his deputy
should act.
“In this case, the governor is not on annual leave or medical
vacation and he has not transmitted any letter to us.
“It is only the transmission of such a letter that can give
powers to the deputy governor to act in his absence’’, he said.
According to the speaker, Ayade was on an investment trip abroad
but had since returned to the country to resume duty.
“The governor has not committed any impeachable offence by
travelling. The constitution does not say that anytime the governor
is involved in a trip he should inform the house of assembly.
“Whatever rumour about the impeachment of the governor is false.
The information is blackmail with the intent to cause tension
between the executive and the legislature,’’ the speaker said.
Gaul-Lebo noted that the house has been on recess since March,
but pointed out that only the House Committee on Finance and
Appropriation had been holding series of meetings.
According to him, the committee has been considering issues
pertaining to non-revenue-generating agencies in the state.
“The only committee that is working on over-sight for now is the
committee on appropriation and finance.
“What they are doing is trying to de-list non-revenue-generating
agencies that are collecting revenue for the state government,” he
added.
Also, Mr Matthew Olory, the Chairman of the House Committee on
Information, denied any impeachment move on Ayade.
“We have never sat as a house to contemplate any impeachment
move against Ayade.
“The rumour is false as far as I am concerned. The governor has
not committed any impeachable offence; we don’t impeach a governor
on the social media or pages of newspapers’’, he said.
The Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, John Gaul-Lebo, says
the social media reports that the house has resolved to impeach
Gov. Ben Ayade over his recent trip abroad is fake.
Gaul-Lebo said on Wednesday in Calabar that the house had never
contemplated any move to impeach the governor, contrary to the said
media reports.
“The house of assembly is not contemplating to impeach the
governor; there is no plan like that.
“What I read on social media is that the governor had travelled
out of the country and that it is an impeachable offence.
“Section 190 of the constitution only contemplates a situation
where the governor proceeds on either annual leave or medical
vacation.
“It states that where the governor is unable to perform his
duties, he should transmit a letter to the house that his deputy
should act.
“In this case, the governor is not on annual leave or medical
vacation and he has not transmitted any letter to us.
“It is only the transmission of such a letter that can give
powers to the deputy governor to act in his absence’’, he said.
According to the speaker, Ayade was on an investment trip abroad
but had since returned to the country to resume duty.
“The governor has not committed any impeachable offence by
travelling. The constitution does not say that anytime the governor
is involved in a trip he should inform the house of assembly.
“Whatever rumour about the impeachment of the governor is false.
The information is blackmail with the intent to cause tension
between the executive and the legislature,’’ the speaker said.
Gaul-Lebo noted that the house has been on recess since March,
but pointed out that only the House Committee on Finance and
Appropriation had been holding series of meetings.
According to him, the committee has been considering issues
pertaining to non-revenue-generating agencies in the state.
“The only committee that is working on over-sight for now is the
committee on appropriation and finance.
“What they are doing is trying to de-list non-revenue-generating
agencies that are collecting revenue for the state government,” he
added.
Also, Mr Matthew Olory, the Chairman of the House Committee on
Information, denied any impeachment move on Ayade.
“We have never sat as a house to contemplate any impeachment
move against Ayade.
“The rumour is false as far as I am concerned. The governor has
not committed any impeachable offence; we don’t impeach a governor
on the social media or pages of newspapers’’, he said.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/c-river-speaker-reacts-to-gov-ayades-impeachment-plan/