By NWOGHA NDUBUISI ANDY
The Speaker Ebonyi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has on Wednesday declared his members stand on the long debated proposed site for the newly approved Federal College of Education, declaring that the house for purpose of Unity of the state supported that the institution be situated at Isu in Ohaozara LGA.
He made this known to Newsmen at the House of Assembly Complex Nkaliki, shortly after the plenary sitting for the screening of the Governor’s nominees.
According to him, the Federal College ab nitio was sited at Isu before it’s approval by Mr. President, stressing that the former State Governor’s and other Federal Representives protest was of good omen which was a sign of proper representation.
However,when asked his role in influencing members to site the school at Isu,he said Dr. Sam Egwu,Senator representing Ebonyi North arguing that the institution be moved to the northern part as the south has other Federal institutions was considered during their deliberation, but he urged the people to allow the Federal government remain at the approved site so as not to gander relationship between the two Political zones.
He added that the two zones are in the state and what favoured one part would be for the general interest of the entire state.
His words,”The Federal College was at abinitio sited at Isu before Mr.President approved it. Though, alot of issues have been raised concerning where the new institution should be situated, and our former Governor,now Senator representing Ebonyi North protested that Ebonyi South other Federal institutions and he spoke well because he has people he is representing”.
“His reason was that Ebonyi South has many other institutions but none in Ebonyi North,but we said for now that we have seen what you are saying which we are not criticising because he did what he suppose to do as a representative of the area”.
“Meanwhile,we are urging everybody to Know that this school is coming to Isu in Ebonyi and we are one people, and there’s no other Federal institution at Isu, and if we say since it has been sited by Federal government that it should be moved to Izzi;you will see that you have severe the existing good relationship between Izzi and Isu people without knowing the consequence of such action.”
“So, he aired his opinion as a leader elected by the people and we are not criticising it but all we are saying is that as leaders, we should work together for the betterment of the state and should promote good governance in the country especially in our young state”.
In another development, Rt.Hon. Nwifuru said members forfeit their 2020 allowance in support of the ongoing international Airport and Health College, described the two projects as economic pillar of the state when completed.
He said when the airport is completed as designed would uplift economic development of the state, even as he added that the two projects serve as priority for the current administration.
“The state Governor had deemed it necessary that we have functional general hospital because very soon our students who are graduating from medical field will be stranded and when you look at it you discovered that the Memorandum of Understanding we signed earlier with the Federal government stipulated some areas they will be helping Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, now Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (EA-FETHA) but fortunately, the hospital has now be taken over by Federal government”.
“So, it means that our students will have no teaching Hospital where they will be getting practical knowledge and that has called for immediate replacement of the vacuum already created.
“The problem of our country is that we have ignored health sector, thereby, believing on travelling abroad for medical check-up whereas no foreigner comes here for medical tourism .does it mean that we don’t have the strength to build functional hospital and equip it to international standard that it will attract foreigners”,he quired.
Meanwhile, Mr.Speaker refuted the alleged claim that his office operates without gazette as most bills passed by the 6th Assembly are not traceable, be he argued that no bill can go to the public without be gazzetted according to the country’s constitution.
