Rumble in AKHA over changes in committees - Affected House members protest

There are serious rumblings in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly over the recent changes in committees and portfolios as announced by the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Samuel Ikon on the first sitting of the 3rd legislative year.

The changes in the committees as announced  by the speaker of the State House of Assembly affected about five members and some of them are not happy over the development and has launch a gang up against the speaker.

Under the new arrangement, the member representing Nsit Atai Hon. Sarah Elijah who was the chairman House Committee on NDDC is now the Chairman Committee on Information. 

 Hon Aniekan Akpan member representing Ukanafun who chaired the House services has been redeployed to the public account committee while Hon. Anietie Etuk who was in public account is now in economic planning and development.

 The member representing Etim Ekpo/Ika who was the chairman house committee on economic planning and development has been moved to the house services while Hon. Efefiong Antigha has been moved from information to youth, sports and security committee, and Hon. Victor Udofia, member representing Ikono State Constituency who chaired the committee on youth, sports and security is now the chairman house committee on NDDC.

The changes have begun to spark crisis among members of the House who are not comfortable with the changes. Some of the protesting members questioned whether they were complaining to the speaker about their committee to warrant the changes.

One of the arrow head member who is championing the protest is the member representing Ikono State Constituency Hon Victor Udofia who has been moved from youth, sports and security to NDDC has seriously criticized the action of the speaker.

He described Ikon as a weak leader who does not have a say of his own and is doing the biding of few selfish members so that they will allow him to remain on the seat of speakership.

Among those ganging up are members representing Ikono, Ukanafun and Nsit Ibom state constituencies who are bitter with the speaker. It was physically telling on their faces after the announcement of changes by the speaker.

Hon. Victor Udofia is alleged to have said that he will stop at nothing to ensuring that he pays back the speaker whom he described as always listening to the opinion of a few.