Lawmakers in Anambra State House of Assembly were, yesterday, divided over the sack of Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.
Princess Oduah was one of the four ministers relieved of their duties, last Wednesday, by President Goodluck Jonathan among three other ministers.
While some members described it as a routine exercise and prerogative of the President to hire and fire based on reasons known to him, some members described Oduah’s sack as an unfortunate development for the people of Anambra State.
Chairman, House Committee on Information, Pauly Onyeka, while conceding that the President had a constitutional right to hire and fire any minister said, Oduah’s case was done in error, having served the aviation sector very well.
Stella Oduah
”It is unfortunate that such a minister that had excelled in her functions as a minister should be sacked from office when investigations into the allegations against her had not been made public,” he said.
Reacting to the issue, Ikem Uzezie, who represents Aguata l constituency, Ebele Obi (Idemili South), Ikechukwu Umeh (Aguat ll), and Chigbo Enwezo (Onitsha) said the dropping of the four ministers, including Princess Oduah was in line with a constitutional provision that empowered the President to hire and fire ministers.
”Mrs Stella Oduah has performed creditably in the Aviation industry. And now that we do not have any representative in the ministerial list in the Presidency, we still hope that another minister would be appointed from Anambra State,” Uzezie said.
Obi, who also subscribed to the view that Oduah was not sacked, but resigned to prepare herself for future jobs, said even without the N255 million two bullet proof cars scam and certificate forgery against her, the President would still have sacked her when the need arose.
The member representing Aguata ll constituency, Ikechukwu Umeh, said though the state had lost its slot in the Presidency, the President should be magnanimous to still give the state another ministerial position.
Enwezor, who represents Onitsha North I, said though no reason was given for Oduah’s sack, it would be morally justified for the President to pick another minister from Anambra State.
”It is the duty of the President to hire and fire any minister he appointed when he deems necessary and that is the way I see the Odua’s case. I do not think that her sack had anything to do with the scam or certificate forgery issue,” he said.
