BY   CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI—The planned presentation of Imo State 2014 Appropriation Bill by Governor Rochas Okorocha to the State House of Assembly turned out to be a farce, while journalists and all the invited guests went home disappointed.

Although no reason was advanced by Government House for the failure of Okorocha to present the budget, Vanguard, however, gathered that most members of the legislature were absent as at the time the presentation was to be read.
It was gathered that the few members of the House, which was not enough to form a quorum, expressed anger that they were not properly notified ahead of the presentation.

The budget presentation, which was originally billed for 10a.m., was later shelved as there was nothing to show that the lawmakers were ready to receive the governor.
The speaker, Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu, arrived Ikemba Ojukwu Conference Centre, currently used for legislative functions, nearly one hour behind schedule.
The governor’s aides, who were in the place early to ascertain the level of preparedness for the event, noticed that the lawmakers were not ready for the event and immediately sent the appropriate signal to Government House.
Vanguard gathered from some staff of the Assembly that “most members of the House only learnt about the event from the state radio station and this is not fair to the legislators.”

A female staff, who equally spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, told Vanguard that “the lawmakers felt deeply slighted that the governor did not properly inform the House about his official visit to the Assembly.”
Meanwhile, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the budget presentation has been shifted to tomorrow.