A former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Kennedy Ibeh has expressed his profound gratitude to the state governor, Hope Uzodimma for giving him the opportunity to serve as speaker.
Ibeh made the remark at a breakfast meeting he held with members of staff on Wednesday.
Ibeh, who represents Obowo Constituency resigned on Monday as speaker of the state legislature after a 10-month stint.
He was swiftly replaced by Emeka Nduka, member for Ehime Mbano Constituency.
Nduka is the fourth lawmaker to emerge speaker of the House under three years.
Ibeh urged his aides to reach out to his Obowo political family to continue to support Gov Uzodimma for giving him opportunity to serve for over 10 months as speaker, against all odds.
He narrated how, as a student, he would travel to Imo State and Omuma to see Uzodimma and therefore described the opportunity to work beside him as divine.
Ibeh said there is nothing he has not heard as issues that culminated into his resignation, but said that he leaves all to God, who sees in the open and in secret.
He said; “When this position came by God, a lot of people rejoiced and a lot also were in shock.
“A lot like you kept awake to make it work, a lot also kept awake to see to its earliest end. As we are here now with pains in your faces, some cannot hide their happiness.
“Some took to the streets saying good things about me unsolicited, just as now a lot are restless churning out endless lies against me just to ensure I don’t breathe again but they are not my creator”.
According to him, the most important thing to him is that all through his stay as Speaker, his loyalty to the governor remained 100%.
He challenged anyone to point at any issue that bothers on disloyalty or betrayal beyond calling a dog a bad name just to achieve a negative plot.
The erstwhile speaker urged his aides to rise up to the challenge of proving enemies wrong.
He said, “I believe that Gov. Hope Uzodimma is doing well even under uncommon security situation, and if given further opportunity to serve, Imo State will be better for it”.
