We’ll defend Rivers from political predators, Pro-Amaechi lawmakers vow Posted by: Yusuf Alli and Shola O’Neil, Regional Editor, Port Harcour in Featured, News 46 mins ago 0 The 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday vowed to defend the state from ‘political predators’ in the crisis that has pitched Governor Rotimi Amaechi against forces from within and outside the state. They warned one of the five suspended pro-Wike members,Evans Bapakaye Bipi, to desist from impersonating Speaker Otelemaba Amachree,whose mandate,according to them remains intact. However,the Obuah-led faction of the PDP in the state faulted the pro-Amaechi legislators and said all available evidence “ clearly show that the former Speaker, Rt Hon Otelemaba Dan Amachree was procedurally impeached, creating room for the election of the new Speaker, Rt Hon Evans Bipi.” The pro-Amaechi lawmakers made the declaration in a statement signed by 26 of them. They did not say who the ‘political predators’ are, although observers believe they could be referring to officials of the Presidency who are said to have more than a passing interest in the unfolding events in the state. Bipi,is a protégé of First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. The First Lady personally attended his wedding in Port Harcourt,last month, during which vehicular movement in many parts of the city was restricted for ‘security reasons’. Gov.Amaechi was a victim of the restriction. In a statement entitled ‘Our Position’, yesterday, 26 of the lawmakers declared their intention to “defend our state from political predators scavenging for cheap popularity and a harvest of political fortunes.” They asked the public to ignore Bipi’s claim to the leadership of the Assembly,saying:”Following the reconvening of the House on 9th of July, 2013, five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (Evans Bipi, Okechukwu Michael Chinda, Kelechi Nwogu, Victor Ihunwo and Martins Amaewhule) in alliance with the Rivers State Police Command and their thugs, carried out unprovoked attack and assault on members including the Speaker (Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree), the Leader of the House (Hon. Chidi Lloyd) and Hon. Wanjoku Chikere Azubuike. “Thereafter they made a spirited but unsuccessful attempt to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in obvious disregard of the amplifying procedures set out in section 92 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeraia Order 12 and Order 28 of the standing orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly.” “Since the botched impeachment attempt, one Hon. Evans Bipi has rather surreptitiously impersonated the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in Defiance and gross violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has gone ahead to make publications in the national media. We hereby call on the public to disregard the impostor (Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi) and his fabricated fallacies which are targeted at misinforming the general public.” Defending their suspension of the Obio/Akpor Local Governmet Council,one of the factors that triggered the political crisis in the state,the 27 lawmakers said provisions of section 4 sub (6) and (7) (a-c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) vests the Assembly with legislative powers to make laws for the peace, governance and order of the state. Their words: “ Section 7(1) of the constitution says it is the responsibility of the House of Assembly to make laws for the existence, establishment, composition, structure, finance and functions of Local Councils. Section 100(1-5) further espouses the powers of the Assembly to make laws. Thus in line with the above provisions the Rivers State House of Assembly enacted the Local Government Law of Rivers State No.2 of 2012. Section 64 sub-section (1)-(4) of the Local Government Law of Rivers State No.2 of 2012 gives the power of suspension of Local Government Council to the Assembly. “In compliance with the above provisions, when the question was put on the interim report on the committee on local government on the issue. 23 members voted for the suspension and 5 members voted against.” The position of only five members of the Assembly,they insisted,can neither override that of the 27 majority nor inhibit the Assembly’s legislative duties. “In compliance with our legislative duties, we have had cause to vote on motions, bills and resolutions that have impacted positively on the citizens of Rivers state, and if a tiny minority of 5 out of 32 members have dissenting views, that does not impugn on the views of the majority,” they said and affirmed their continued support for Speaker Amachree and Governor Rotimi Amaechi. They also pledged their cooperation with the DIG Philemon Leha led fact-finding team sent by the Inspector General of Police as well as the Senate Committee on Local Government fact-finding mission but vowed to have nothing to do with another team of Police Officers led by a commissioner of police and Senator George T. Sekibo. The Rivers lawmakers asked the Federal Government to ensure the restoration of peace to the state and pledged their determination to fight “for the truth and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we swore to uphold. We shall remain resolute in our resolve to defend our state from political predators scavenging for cheap popularity and a harvest of political fortunes.” Signatories to the statement were: Honourables Golden Ngozi Chioma; Innocent B. Barikor; Josiah John Olu; Ibiso Nwuche; Belema Okpokiri; Legbosi Nwidadah; Andrew Anderson Miller; Augustine Ngo; Ben Horsfall; Okechukwu Nwaogu; Victor Amadi; Azubike Chikere Wanjoku; Victoria Nyeche; Benibo Anabraba; Irene Inimgba; Felicia Barizasi-Tane; Aye Atamah Pepple; Onari Brown; Gift Wokocha; Ewor Nname Robinson; Lucky Odili; Chidi Julius Lloyd; Chigbo Eligwe; Leyii Kwanee; Tonye Harry and the Speaker Otelemaba Amachree. Reacting to the pro-Amaechi legislators’ statement,the the Special Adviser on Media to the factional PDP Chairman ,Mr.Jerry Needam, said Bipi was validly elected to replace Amachree. He said Amachree was “procedurally impeached, creating room for the election of the new Speaker, Rt Hon Evans Bipi.” Needam warned Amachree to “desist from twisting facts and misinforming the general public on who the authentic Speaker and other principal officers of the House are ,” and claimed that “ by making unguided submissions on the Police investigation on the matter, the impeached officers may be obstructing the due process of such investigation and those of the National Assembly.” The State PDP,he added, “further urges the former Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree and his cohorts to look at issues that would bring about the quick recovery of Hon Michael Chinda, who doctors are still struggling to save his life in an overseas hospital, rather than laying claim to positions which they have used to cause problems in the State. “As a party committed to justice and peace, we would continue to uphold the rule of law with strict adherence to the precepts of the constitutions of our party and the nation.” tweet
Posted on: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 05:21:58 +0000
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