By Chidi Nkwopara
Posted to the Web: Tuesday, September 26, 2006

He also said that the Speaker was not at any time placed under interrogation by the crime-bursting outfit for any reason whatsoever.
Dr. Dike, who stated this in a press statement he issued and made available to Vanguard in Owerri, was also of the opinion that the rumour making the rounds in the state was the handiwork of mischief-makers.

“He (Nwagwu) was only invited to authenticate the creation of local government development areas and their source of funding, as well as answer a few question on how the House has been able to check the alleged excesses of the local council chairmen in the state”, Dike said.

“Mr. Speaker is not a member of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). He is not a member of ALGON’s technical committee or the State’s Joint Allocation Committee. He has no direct dealings with local governments in the state”, Dike said.

Answering a question, the lawmaker said that the Speaker on request, visited EFCC to assist the Commission get some clarification on a matter it is investigating and not that Nwagwu himself was being investigated.

“We are in a season of destructive blackmail and propaganda, especially from those who feel threatened by the Speaker’s emergence in the governorship race of the state.

The House is aware of this and we will certainly not be deterred”, he opined.
Explaining his stand further, Dike said: “We, in the state legislature, represent the collective interest, aspirations and wishes of Imo people and are therefore, constitutionally empowered to speak for them in their best interest”.