Afikpo Chic Suspension:It is embarrassing for an elected legislator to become a public dancer - Onyebuchi Ememanka

Posted by Factnews | 6 years ago | 4,611 times



The suspension of Ebonyi lawmaker Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi, member representing Afikpo North East has been greeted with so many reactions.

Barr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, a public affairs Analyst and a Special Adviser to the Abia state Governor shares his view on the suspension. 

He wrote:

Yesterday, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly slammed a suspension on one of her members- Hon Maria Ude Nwachi, popularly known as Afikpo Chic, Babe That Ever Liveth.

In the view of the Assembly, the lady who represents the good people of Afikpo North East has brought dishonor to the Assembly by her penchant to abandon her legislative duties for photography and other unparliamentary conducts.

As expected, the action has led to several reactions from a wide spectrum of the society. Some feel it's an unnecessary action since the lady is entitled to her obsessions. Some feel it's an attempt to silence women. Others think it's a correct step.

My humble view on the matter is that the Ebonyi State House of Assembly acted well. 
Every legislative body has the right to regulate its own proceedings and this includes the power to regulate the conduct of its members.

The principal function of a legislator is to make laws. Allied to this function is legislative oversight.

Democracy is built on the doctrine of separation of powers amongst the three arms of government. The idea of checks and balances is a key desideratum of democracy.

A legislator has no business being the image maker of the Executive. This is exactly what Afikpo Chic does. 
With her big camera on her neck, she follows the Governor about, photographing his activities. Indeed, she practically runs the facebook page of the Governor. 
This is wrong. As a lawmaker, it's not her job. You cannot belong to the Executive and Legislature at the same time.

How can a lawmaker who is constitutionally empowered to exercise legislative oversight over the actions of the executive now be the one advertising what the executive does? 
How then can she do her job as a legislator?

On this score alone, she was properly suspended. 
The house has a right to feel embarrassed by her actions.

On her Facebook page, she posts funny videos where she dances in very suggestive ways. If she were an ordinary person, that can be condoned but as an elected lawmaker, she is expected to comport herself properly in public.

A person who occupies the office of a legislator must conduct himself well in public. Legislators have a code of conduct guiding their behavior and actions. 
It is most certainly embarrassing for an elected legislator to become a commercial photographer or public dancer. Ms. Nwachi was at an event organized by the Imo State Government, not as a guest but as a photographer! 
The job of a legislator is full time. 
She could get someone else to take the pictures for her.

I understand her passion for photography. I have that passion too but when one is elected to a particular position, common sense demands that certain adjustments in behavior be affected. 
You simply cannot continue to do things you were doing before exactly the same way you were doing them before your elevation.

I understand that she used to live abroad. That's beside the point. The truth is that she now lives here and occupies a high public office. She simply has to behave herself in public. QED. 
Public office demands a higher standard of public conduct.

I have never read her anywhere write about her legislative functions or any bill nor motion she has sponsored. I have never seen her anywhere tell us about the activities of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

Let the lady go and serve her suspension quietly and use the chance to reflect on her public conduct, in the hope that upon her return, things will change.


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