Essential Ndubuisi
In a show of support, the Cross River State House of Assembly passed a vote of confidence on Thursday, reaffirming their trust in Speaker Elvert Ayambem. This move comes after the Speaker’s recent expulsion from the University of Calabar (UNICAL) due to poor academic performance.
Speaker Ayambem, who assumed office in June, was pursuing a degree in Economics within the Faculty of Social Sciences. However, he was among 637 students withdrawn from the university for having below-average Cumulative Grades Aggregates (CGPA).
The decision to expel him has sparked debates across the state, with some suggesting that his removal from the institution might be linked to his victory over Hilary Bisong, the son of the Vice Chancellor, who contested against him for the position.
Addressing the matter, Professor Flourence Obi, the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, stated that she was unaware of the Speaker’s status as a student at the university and explained that the decision to withdraw students was based on guidelines set by the National Universities Commission (NUC) regarding academic performance.
In response to the Speaker’s expulsion and public perceptions of his abilities, the state legislature took a stand in support of Ayambem during a plenary session. Deputy Speaker Sylvester Agabi moved the motion, representing the legislators’ collective sentiment of confidence in the Speaker’s leadership.
Agabi highlighted the accomplishments of the 10th Assembly during its short 33-day tenure, which included passing over 10 motions, addressing five matters of public interest, and conducting oversight functions in various sectors. He attributed these successes to the able leadership of Speaker Ayambem, whom he praised as the “people’s Speaker.”
Davies Etta, the Deputy Leader of the House and a representative of Abi constituency, seconded the motion and also commended the Speaker’s qualities.
In response, Speaker Ayambem expressed gratitude for the support and considered his election as Speaker to be an act of divine providence. He promised to lead the Assembly with love and unwavering commitment to serving the people of Cross River State.
As the controversy surrounding the Speaker’s expulsion continues, the vote of confidence from the state House of Assembly seeks to bolster his position and assert the belief in his capacity to lead effectively.
