BY AMBROSE OLOGIDE
The Councillor representing Okumagba 1, Ward 9, Lucky Ibiri has said that he was wrongly suspended by the Warri South Local Government Legislative Arm.
He stated this at a press briefing in Warri, yesterday, as he traced his suspension to his opposition to the wrong presentation of the local government budget by the House to the local government chairman, an issue which, he said, was settled by leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the local government area.
Ibiri also linked his suspension to the issues he had with the leader of the House, Joy Ejumudo and the immediate past member of Delta State House of Assembly representing Warri South Constituency 2 at the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Matthew Opuoru. He alleged that Hon. Opuoru was against him because he did not support his (Opuoru) ambition of reelection to the Delta State House of Assembly.
He further explained that since all efforts for him to resolve the issue with leaders of the party in the local government area were unsuccessful, he decided to take the issue to court to seek an address, particularly to restrain the House not to taking any unfavourable decision against him.
Ibiri also pointed out that the suspension was against the court proceedings and therefore declared that he still remains a member of the house pending the decision of the court. He further alleged that his life was under threat by unknown persons at the time of filing this report.
However, when contacted to hear his part of the story, the immediate past member of Delta State House of Assembly representing Warri South Constituency 11, Hon Opuoru distanced himself from issues that led to the suspension of Lucky Ibiri.
He hinted that Ibiri was suspended because he allegedly fought and tore the shirt of a two-time member of the House and councillor representing Igbudu Ward, Sammy Eyekpimi and for also dragging the House to court.
Opuoru said that all the members of Warri South Local Government Legislative Arm, the Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Isaac Agbateyiniro and the leader of PDP Warri Urhobos, Prof Israel Abido were not pleased with Lucky Ibiri over his misconduct.
The leader of the House, Joy Ejumudo spoke in the same vein as she said that it was unfair for Ibiri to trace his suspension to community issues.
Ejumudo who said that she and the Deputy Leader of the house were not around when the decision to suspend Ibiri was taken, also alleged that there was a threat to her life by unknown persons.
