Ahead the inauguration of the new Enugu House of Assembly, the Labour Party has cautioned its members elect against monetary inducement during the election of House leadership.
Recall that the Labour Party won 14 seats out of the 24- member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, hence are in the majority.
There have, however, been speculations that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may lobby some members to make up the numbers to produce the next speaker.
Delivering a lecture at a retreat organized for the members elect by the Labour Party Prof.Jude Udenta of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Enugu, called on the incoming assembly members not to allow monetary inducement from the executive to becloud their sense of judgement.
Emphasising on the dangers of pandering to monetary influence, Udenta said that they would be like Judas that got money but never lived to enjoy the money.
The Labour Party, LP, governorship candidate in the just concluded Enugu State Governorship election, Barr. Chijoke Edeoga, in his speech urged the members of the party who were elected into the Enugu State House Assembly, to be ready to protect their constituencies as well as the constituents.
“Protect your constituencies and your constituents. You should know where you are coming from and where you are going,” he said pointing out that they were given the mandate to represent the people and as such should stand for the people.
Edeoga who enjoined the incoming legislators not to be confrontational with the executive, however said they must always bear in mind of giving their people the needed democracy dividend, adding that they should distinguish themselves and not be like the past legislators who many see as rubber stamps to the executive.
“Try to distinguish yourself so that you are not like the people in the past. The people needed a change and you have to give them the change,” he exhorts.
Speaking earlier in his address to the upcoming legislators, the Enugu State Labour Party chairman, Barr. Casmir Agbo called on the elected members not to go to the House to dance to the tune of the executive but to be focused on what their constituencies and constituents want.
He however urged them not to stand up to the executive as if they are going in for a fight but to protect interest.
“We are not going to fight anybody as a party. We want factual and truthful governance. We should not be termed opposition.
“There is not going to be any war with you and the executive. The House will ensure that the executive does not disburse funds without approval from the House.
“If the executive for instance comes up with a project and it is not executed, the House will hold the executive accountable,” he said, noting that they should ensure that things are not done the same way they were done in the past.
