The Senate considered and adopted a report at plenary declared yesterday over the crisis at the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013.
The lawmakers described the crisis as the expression of deep-rooted political crisis occasioned by the alleged highhandedness of Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and the perceived undue interference with the political and security structure of the state by President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience and the national hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Senate in its report also called on the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, to “immediately” redeploy the commissioner of police, Rivers State command, Mr Joseph Mbu, since, according to the federal lawmakers, “his relationship with the governor has broken down irretrievably”.
“Mbu has refused to cooperate with the governor, Chibuike Amaechi, on matters of security even though the governor is the chief security officer of the state,” the report observed.
It also faulted the impeachment of the Rivers Assembly speaker, Hon. Amachree, by five House members led by Hon. Evans Bipi. The report insisted that the purported impeachment is not compliance with the provisions of Section 92(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution and contrary to Order 12 and 28 of the Rivers State House of Assembly Standing Orders, 1999.
The Senate report further accused Hon. Evans Bipi of bringing thugs to the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Senate report reads in part: “…The security personnel were insufficiently proactive in preventing and addressing the crisis at the Rivers State House of Assembly and the operational planning and response to the crisis.
“The crowd further forced their way into the chambers and interrupted the sitting of the House, and majority of the Honourable members had to run out of the Chambers for their safety.
“The Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amachree, and Hon. Chidi Llyod were assaulted by Hon. Evans Bipi which precipitated the crisis.
“Hon, Chidi Liyod used the Mace, which is the symbol of authority, to brutalise Hon. Michael Chinda.
“The governor of Rivers State rushed to the House of Assembly complex to salvage the situation on receipt of a distress call from a member of the House.
“Some security personnel particularly those in green and blue berets were actively engaged in a free for all fight in the Chambers on 9 July 2013.
“The security details to Governor Amaechi disarmed a policeman who cocked his gun to shoot and the policeman was injured in the process.”
In the report of the Senator Kabiru Gaya-led Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration, the Senate agreed with the resolutions of the House of Representatives and resolved to take over legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The House of Representatives had on July 10 passed A resolution to take over the legislative functions of the Rivers Assembly and invoked section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), thereby taking over legislative transactions in the assembly.
Senate president David Mark is also to mediate in the crisis between the feuding factions in the Assembly.
A crisis had engulfed the Rivers Assembly when five members out of 32 attempted to impeach the speaker, Hon Otelemaba Amachree. The confusion that followed led to violence among the state lawmakers. One of the lawmakers who sustained severe injuries had since been flown abroad for treatment.
This is Senate rubbish, y r the senators been lopsided in dre quest 4 peace in rivers state. The world saw a video where Hon Chidi Lloyd used a maze to brk d head of his coliq wit d governors’ CSO & ADC beating up Hon. Mike Chinda, they cld nt condemn dt, all they r after is to take over the function of RSHA so dt Gov. Ameachi wld nt b impeached.
We know Gov. Ameachi hs paid all the lawmakers for this assignment. If the Senate Committee & House of Reps, r fair & sincerely want to end d crises they shld start frm the Genesis of the problem. Gov. Ameachi had tru d Assembly removed d Elected Obio/Akpor Council Chairman, Vice & Legislators frm office in retaliation 4 a Court order sacking d Party Chairman loyal to him frm office.
These r Elected Representatives & nt appointed by Ameachi. The law provides dt wen D council Chairman is away, d vice acts, if d vice is also away, the Speaker of Council but if d speaker is also away, the Head of Personnel HPM is to run d council Affairs, Gov. Ameachi s aware of this but went ahead to inaugurate a Caretaker Committee to run d council in flagrant abuse of d law. Y didn’t d National Assembly ask him questions on dis wch is d root cause of the problem?
The hv sold dre conscience to the Governor, granted all his plea including d redeployment of d Police CP, & indicting President Jonathan & his wife, r they members of the RSHA? Were they d once dt asked d Governor’s ADC & CSO to assist Chidi Lloyd in beating Hon. Chinda? Is Chinda nt a Nigerian with right to life? The Senators did not even visit Hon. Chinda or show concern 4 d injured lawmaker, all they r after is to protect d Governor’s job dt hs paid dem.
Gov. Ameachi paid d thugs dt attacked d Lawmakers N5m each, d nxt day dey were all buying Jeeps & making noise around PH.
Gov. Ameachi hs built a Private Refinery in Ghana, even sponsored a candidate in d last Ghana Presidential Election. He suspended Local Government Chairmen in d state 4 coming late 4 a meeting yet he hs never hidden his disdain 4 President Jonathan, the things he wldn’t take frm his Local Council Chairmen, he does it to the President.
He ought to show dt man sum respect, by Age Jonathan is older, Qualification Jonathan is better of, God hs made him d president so he deserves sum respect. If Jonathan shld hv enemies, it shldn’t b Gov. Ameachi. He’s spending Rivers money buying Northern Governors & followers to fight Jonathan, instead of d Northern Governors to buy him as a Southern Governor, reverse is the case. If Jonathan were to b a Northerner, d northern Governors wld rally round him & mk his tenure succeed, this is wat is expected of Ameachi.
Dn’t gt me wrong I’m nt supporting Nyesom Nwike’s camp cos both of dem non is better as they r all fighting for the resources of Rivers State. Pple r saying Ameachi is trying, compared to wat comes into d state, Ameachi is doing nothing. Dt ws how Odili ws distracted by the same northerners & he ws busy buying Traditional Titles & collecting awards here & dre, making Golden Governor & forgot to develop Rivers State. Now Ameachi is at it again wit Governor’s Forum, dn’t they ever learn?
Rivers State under Ameachi is a slump, all d roads in PH r impassable, d whole city gets flooded at any slight rain & d traffic in d city comes to a standstill. Its very pathetic.
Gov. Ameachi shld rather forget dis senseless fight wit d Presidency & channel dt resources to develop Rivers State. Its a battle he can’t win. He cn ask Alamco d Governor General of Ijaw Nation how d fight with d Presidency feels like. He’s jst lucky d President doesn’t hv his time. He shld try this with Baba & c!