The Anambra State House of Assembly polarises on two lines over the 2008 Appropriation Bill. But there appears to be more than meets the eye

By Jude Orji/ Awka

Another drama is unfolding in Anambra State. Since 2003, the state has become a theatre of the absurd in the country’s political arena. If it is not the abduction of the governor by a political godfather, it will be the destruction of government property by political thugs.

The current non-passage of the N84 billion 2008 Appropriation Bill presented to the House by Governor Peter Obi on 21 December 2007 is further creating tension in the state. The document has torn the state’s House of Assembly into two factions, with the Speaker, Anayo Nnebe, pitted against Afam Obi, his deputy. Nnebe leads the G-19 while Obi heads the G-11 group. Also in the latter group are Paulinus Obichukwu and Ozo Ughamadu.

Obi and his supporters are alleging a plan by the Nnebe group to “secretly pass the budget” after reducing it from N84 billion to N57 billion “without the full knowledge of all the lawmakers.” The Finance/Appropriation committee, chaired by Ikenna Mbazuluike Amechi, reduced Government House budget estimate from N4.3 billion to N750 million while increasing that of the House from N284 million to N1.235 billion. It also removed money earmarked for strategic investments for the state.

Legislators symphatetic to Governor Obi are accusing the Speaker and the Finance committee of a deliberate attempt to castrate effective administration of the state by starving the governor of funds. The drastic reduction of the budget estimate to N750 million is being questioned, as is the increase of the House vote from N284 million to N1.235 billion.
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