A member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Solomon Akpulonu, says he will soon start his assessment of the Labour Party-led (LP) government in the state.
He said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the sidelines of his empowerment of his constituents in Obingwa East State Constituency.
The colourful ceremony held at his village, Umuogele in Ntighauzo Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area.
Akpulonu, the immediate past Majority Leader and member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said his assessment would start in the next six months.
He said: “But for now, I will not say anything. I’m just quiet, taking records, keeping documents, keeping records.
“As an insider, after these six months, I should have given the government of LP the benefit of the doubt.
“I shall be assessing them based on what I know that has come into this state and what they have done.”
NAN reports that Akpulonu, who is one of the longest serving lawmakers in the state, was suspended from plenary for 14 sitting days on July 18, 2023.
He was axed by the Emmanuel Emeruwa, the Speaker of the 8th Assembly, for alleged “gross uncivilised attitude” and granting press interviews without clearance.
Akpulonu, who expressed gratitude to God and his constituents for their support since his sojourn in politics started in 2003, said that he was done with the House of Assembly contest.
He continued thus: “I am so happy that I have been able to achieve a lot in the House of Assembly. I have done my bit, and I’m not a sit tight person.
“So, for now, I am done, I cannot contest the House of Assembly again, and even if it is given to me free, I’m done.
“I just decided that I should pause at this local level, and maybe think higher.
“But for now, we’ve not made our ambition, because we are still monitoring the political terrain, so as to know where to pinch our tent, and how we are going to do it.”
Akpulonu, a lawyer and PDP stalwart, pledged his loyalty to the party amid its internal crises, saying: “no party is peaceful.”
“I think what is happening in PDP is an internal party affair. I have no camp and any group that wins in the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, I’m there.”
During the empowerment programme, Akpulonu gave out gift items worth millions of naira, including motorcycles, sewing machines, generating sets, clippers, hair dryers and bags of rice, to appreciate his constituents.
“There are certain persons that have not benefited anything from me since I came into politics, but today I decided to touch some of them.
“I know it’s not easy to touch everybody, but the few persons that have benefited today have made me so happy.
“Secondly, this is a festive period and as our custom, at least, we share certain things to our people, so that they can enjoy their Christmas,” he said:
