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Insecurity: “Prohibit the indiscriminate use and duplication of government plate numbers” Hon. Onuzuruike entreats Abia Assembly…..
The Deputy Chief Whip and Member representing Umuahia North State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Sir Kelechi Onuzuruike has express deep concern over the abusive use of government plate numbers by unauthorized persons in the state.
The Lawmaker make the supplication when he moves a motion of matter of urgent public importance during plenary, drawing the attention of the Honourable House to the ugly trend, in a bid to nip ugly development on the bud.
Hon. Onuzuruike note with dismay the situation where erstwhile government officials continue the usage of government plate numbers, including Aides to some serving House Members. According to him, this has led to a confusing situation where he spotted his officially assigned plate number in another vehicle belonging to a colleague’s aide.
Continuing, he lamented the arbitrary issuance of the government plate numbers, which can lead to identity crisis, especially in this period of worsening insecurity. “Proper identification of persons and vehicles in this critical time is of utmost importance to both the people and government of the state”. He maintained.
The Abia Legislator noted that the situation if left unchecked, can lead to impersonating of government officials by predatory criminal elements in the state.
Contributing, Honourable Members representing Isialangwa South, Rt Hon. Chikwendu Kalu and his Aba Central counterpart, Hon. Abraham Oba both supported the motion wholeheartedly, while urging Fellow Members to do same and grant all the prayers as said.
Hon. Stanley Nwabuisi (Ikwuano Constituency) and Rt. Hon. Kennedy Njoku (Osisioma North), in their separate contributions, recounted situations where members of the public mistook their vehicles for some persons using same official plate numbers. They supported the motion in its entirety, describing it as timely.
He therefore prayed the Honourable House to mandate the State Government to put a stop to the indiscriminate use and duplication of government plate numbers in the state, and also mandate Clerk of the House to liaise with relevant authorities to retrieve the plate numbers from all unauthorized users.
Reacting, Mr Speaker, Rt Hon. Enyinnaya Orji said that the importance of the motion cannot be overemphasized, since it bothers on security. He regretted the situation where same official plate numbers are being used by different persons within the state.
The Honourable House, therefore, resolved as follows:
- That the House mandate the Executive, through the Governor, to direct his Chief Security Adviser to recover all official plate numbers from erstwhile government officials and other unauthorized persons in the state.
- That the CSO to the Governor should identity unauthorized users of government plate numbers in the state and possibly prosecute them.
- Direct the Clerk to retrieve all plate numbers belonging to Abia State House of Assembly in circulation within 2 weeks and also order the Sergeant At Arms to ensure the plate numbers of all House Members are recovered immediately their tenure ends.
- That the Clerk should issue covering letters to all the 24 Honourable Members within one week.
