Anambra 7th Legislature: A Tale Of Sleeping Lawmakers 

As the countdown to the 2023 general election takes centrestage amidst the winding down of the current political dispensation, it is pertinent and of paramount importance to appraise the 7th legislature of Anambra state as many a person aspire to be in the 8th legislature come 2023

The extent to which the 30 representatives of the various constituencies of the current legislature have done, would be a clear portrayal of whether they have endeavoured to meet the yearnings and expectations of their respective constituents. A closer look at some members of the House of Assembly shows a clear detachment and nonchalance towards the primary reason they were elected into office. Little wonder then if these crop of representatives understand that their attitudes towards the reason for their election have become an affront to the mandate of the people bestowed on them on a platter of gold.

Some members of the 7th legislature have not spoken on the floor of the House of Assembly since they were inaugurated in 2019. Some of those who have spoken have not made meaningful contributions during plenary and committee of the whole. Some of the lawmakers have not attended plenary in the last one year while the grapevine has it that some lawmakers are facing challenges of recall from their constituents. A source from Anambra State House of Assembly said that the 7th legislature takes the rear in the ranking of parliamentary business in Anambra state. Be that as it may, another source from the legislature revealed that while there are sleeping lawmakers, there are those who came to the House of Assembly with a sense of duty and purpose. One of such persons is the new Chief Whip of the House and member representing Njikoka 2 state constituency Hon. Pete Ibida. The Speaker of the House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor confirmed in his speech during plenary that Hon. Pete Ibida was carefully chosen amongst the APGA caucus in the House because of his carriage, charisma, oratory power and meaningful contributions to legislative proceedings.

Again, the likes of Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor, Hon. Noble Igwe,  Somto Udeze, Timothy Ifedioramma, Hon. Emeka Aforka,  Lawrence Ezeudu, Nnamdi Okafor,  Nwachukwu Egbuna, Rt. Hon. Dr. Paschal Agbodike, the Speaker Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor and a few others were adjudged to have been very active since the commencement of the 7th legislature. But Nnewi-south 1 and 2, Onitsha-south 1 and 2, Orumba-south, Awka-North, Awka-south 2, Onitsha-North 2 , Oyi, Idemili-North, Anaocha 1 and 2 , Ekwusigo, Aguata 1 and 2, and some others leave much to be desired. While some of these people are currently serving their third term, some second term and others first term, it is time electorate shunned stomach infrastructure to enable them to really determine the calibre of people to represent them in the next political dispensation because at the moment some of the lawmakers could be referred to as sleeping lawmakers in the hallowed chambers of the House of Assembly of Anambra state.