The Imo State House of Assembly on Thursday called for the withdrawal of the query issued to the Chairman of National Population Commission, Festus Odimegwu, over his comment on the 2006 census.
The House made the call following a motion moved by Hon. Stan Dara (PDP-Orsu), urging President Goodluck Jonathan to order the withdrawal of the query issued to Odimegwu and the suspension of all other actions against him.
Dara said that Odimegwu did nothing wrong in his statement, stressing that he was privileged to make such statements as the commission’s boss with access to census records.
Supporting the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Donatus Ozoemena (APGA-Oru-West), said that the Federal Government ought to have critically investigated Odimegwu’s claims instead of issuing him a query.
In his contribution, Hon. Ike Amuka (PDP-Ideato South) called for the investigation of Odimegwu’s claim since fiscal allocations were largely based on census figures.
Also speaking, Hon. Simeon Iwunze (PDP-Isiala Mbano) condemned the statements purportedly made by Governor Ibrahim Kwankwaso of Kano State against Odimegwu.
Iwunze also proposed that a delegation should be sent to Jonathan to register the Assembly’s disapproval of the query and the governor’s statements
The Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, supported the prayers of the motion as well as the contributions by the Assemblymen who spoke on it.
The motion also urged other legislators in the South-East geopolitical zone to condemn the query.
Odimegwu had said that there was no credible census in the country and his statement attracted a query from the Federal Government.
Besides, Kwankwaso called for the sack of Odimegwu, insisting that his appointment as NPC chairman was a mistake.
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