My Regrets As Speaker, 7th Abia State House Of Assembly – Engr. Chinedum Orji | WATCH VIDEO

The Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engineer Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, has opened up on the regrets and challenges he faced as Speaker of the House.

Orji while interacting with journalists in Umuahia, said serving as the Speaker of the 7th Assembly, was a privilege given to him which he doesn’t regret and which also made him to strive to perform well.

He stated that one of his biggest challenges as Speaker was having to navigate with the politics of the State and the Assembly because of the relationship with the the immediate past governor.

Orji revealed that if given another opportunity, he would remove sentiments from his actions and decisions irrespective of whose ox is gored.

He also regretted that the executive sessions of the House was usually done indoors before plenary, noting that “maybe some of the decisions we took in the executive sessions ought to have been made public.”

The Executive Session of the Assembly is where the House members deliberate and take decisions on issues or bills privately, before plenary which is public.

The speaker said;

“It has been an honour and privilege; It’s not a right to serve Abians; there is no regret serving in the State as the Speaker.

“One of the biggest challenges was having to navigate with the politics of the state and the Assembly, vis a viz the relationship with the executive. Some people made it a point of duty to ensure that that relationship was broken out of some selfish reasons.

“When we started, salaries were being paid on 25th of every month because we stepped in. ABSU, Abia state polytechnic, and others were getting subventions within that period.”

On his regrets and what he would change if given another opportunity, Orji added;

“I would remove some level of sentiments from my decisions irrespective of whose ox is gored. I would have removed sentiments from some of my actions because applying sentiments and friendship to your job does not make sense; it makes you take the wrong decisions. Maybe some of the decisions we took in the executive sessions ought to have been made public.”

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