Palpable tension is mounting in Anambra State again after barely two weeks of former Governor Peter Obi�s impeachment and the subsequent swearing in of former Deputy Governor, Virgy Etiaba as substantive governor of the state.
In spite of the fact that the impeachment investigation panel did not find Etiaba wanting over the allegations of gross misconduct, she has been subjected to blackmail by Obi�s enemies who saw to his removal.
Also, insistence by the Mike Balonwu-led group on Thursday that they met the two-thirds majority of members of the House of Assembly before impeaching Obi, led to the stoppage of the October emolument of the six lawmakers loyal to Obi. The Balonwu faction said unless they supply their signatures as those present during the impeachment process, they would not receive their emoluments for October.
The lawmakers are Theophilous Nnorom (Ihiala II Constituency), Luis Nkemdirim (Awka North), Peter Onuorah (Ayamelum), Frank Igboka and Gimobi Joseph, Deputy Majority Leader.
The secrecy in which the panel report has been shrouded is alleged to be used as a trump card to muscle Etiaba into dissolving the cabinet and approving the list of some nominees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)�led Assembly.
Although the meeting between President Olusegun Obasanjo, Andy Uba and Etiaba appeared to have earlier reduced the tension, the visibly disappointed PDP members insisted that the post of a Deputy Governor must come from the party or it would begin another impeachment process before December.
The embattled Etiaba may have been boxed to a tight corner lately as a fresh list of cabinet members has already been complied and may be made public before Tuesday next week, a source said.
As at press time, what looked like a valedictory executive council meeting was being contemplated and when Secretary to the State Government, Paul Ezeoke, was approached for his reaction, he declined comments, saying he knows nothing about the purported cabinet reshuffle.
But Etiaba earlier gave indications that she would work with the executive council members set up by Obi and urged them to join her in building a new Anambra State.
However, one of Etiaba�s aides said there are apprehensions at Government circles that a PDP dominated executive with a PDP Deputy Governor is the last card being used by the lawmakers to ultimately remove Etiaba and enthrone the new deputy governor.
But the State Chief Judge, Justice Chuka Okoli, has allegedly turned down the idea of impeaching Etiaba, insisting that he would not be a party to that plot.
However, confusion over Okoli�s alleged age was said to be canvassed in order to use the National Judicial Council (NJC) to retire him before January 2007 when he is expected to officially retire.
Confirming the report, Speaker of the legislature opposed to Obi�s impeachment, Benson Chuks Nwosu said: “They know that they did not make up the constitutional two-thirds majority to impeach Obi, so they have been mounting pressure on our members promising them heaven and earth to sign the list of members who impeached Obi.
“When our members refused, Balonwu ordered our bankers to sop our October emolument so that we will be compelled to sign the impeachment to enable them meet the two-thirds majority.”