REPS VOTE FOR TAKEOVER OF RIVERS ASSEMBLY •Senate in rowdy session, Omoworare weeps •ACN, Presidency trade words

                                                          

IN a unanimous voice vote, the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, invoked Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and resolved that the National Assembly should take over the functions  of the crisis ridden Rivers State House of Assembly.
Also, the House resolved that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, should re-deploy the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu.
The House, in invoking the section, declared that the state House of Assembly had failed to perform its function and, as such, in line with the constitution, it had to take over its functions until such a time it “is able to function.”
The House resolution was sequel to a motion moved by the chairman on Rules and Business, Honourable Albert Sam-Tsokwa, who noted that aside the fracas on Tuesday, the state assembly had, on previous occasions, tried to hold its normal sittings and transact parliamentary business but was unable to do so as a result of the presence of hoodlums in the precincts of the assembly and the inability of the police to provide security.
He also expressed worry that the state police command, which had pledged to provide security for the sitting of the assembly, watched the violence unleashed on members without any form of intervention.
“In a situation where the police commissioner is alleged to have taken sides and five out of a 32-member assembly procured thugs and hoodlums to prevent the assembly from performing its constitutional functions, if the situation prevailing is allowed to continue, it will lead to a serious threat to our democracy,” he said.
There was, however, mild drama when Honourable Sam-Tsokwa rose to move the motion, when a Rivers State lawmaker, Honourable Kingsley Chinda, raised a point of order to intimate the House that there was already an ad hoc committee set up by the House to look into the state assembly matter, but he was shouted down by members who were not in support of his point of order.
At a point, there was uproar in the House when Honourable Chinda insisted that he must be heard by the chairman of the session, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha.
In the course of debate on the motion, only Honourable Chinda and Honourable Kenneth Chikere  kicked against the motion.
Speaking in support of the motion, Honourable Bimbo Daramola concurred that the House should intervene in the Rivers State Assembly, stressing that the commissioner of police should be removed in the interest of peace in the state.
Also, Honourable Aminu Suleiman said what happened in Rivers State was normal, adding that it was normal for politicians to disagree and also called for immediate removal of the police boss in the  state.
Honourables Femi Gbajabiamila, Yakubu Dogara, Simon Arabo, Asita Honourable, Emmanuel Jime Ali Madaki, Robison Uwak and a host of other supported the motion.
The key prayers adopted in the motion was, however, put forward by Honourable Jime, who called for quick take over of the functions of the assembly and redeployment of the police commissioner.
When the motion was put to vote by the deputy speaker, who presided over the session, it was unanimously adopted by members.
Briefing newsmen after the plenary session, the House spokesperson, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, said the lawmakers took the action in the overall interest of the growing nascent democracy in the country and to avert further crisis that could truncate the democratic rule.
Mohammed said the situation had reached an alarming state, adding that the two factions in the crisis had, in the last 24 hours, produced two different speakers who were laying claim to the leadership of the assembly.
He said that the House had to rise up to the occasion so as to arrest total breakdown of law and order in the state and, by extention, the entire country.
Senate in rowdy session as Omoworare weeps
The Senate witnessed another round of rowdy session on Wednesday, as its members were divided along party lines over the impeachment controversies rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The senators were engaged in a serious disagreement over a prayer which sought the intervention of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in the face-off between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu.
The prayer stated: “That the Senate further resolves that the Inspector General of Police should take immediate step to address the issue of the broken relationship between the governor of Rivers State and the state Commissioner of Police.”
The Senate, consequently for the first time in nine years, resorted to a formal division and physical vote counting to decide on the prayer, which was eventually resolved in favour of senators who were in support of the prayer.
This pattern of resolving a controversial issue was last explored in 2004, when the Senator Adolphus Wabara was the Senate President.
The upper chamber had, shortly after resumption on Wednesday, went into a one-hour closed-door session with the aim to find lasting solution to the Rivers State crisis.
However, the legislative body witnessed a rowdy session, as some of the senators insisted that rather than mere intervention, the Senate should compel the Inspector General of Police to remove the state Commissioner of Police.
At the end of the physical counting conducted by the clerk of the Senate, Ben Efeturu, Senator David Mark announced that senators who were absent from the day’s sitting were three, those who abstained from voting were seven, those who voted in favour of outright removal of the Commissioner of Police were 47, while those who supported the IGP’s intervention were 50.
 The announcement attracted protest from Senator Babajide Omoworare, who had earlier challenged the voice vote and consequently called for a division through Order 73 of the Senate Standing Rule.
Omoworare, who broke down and wept vehemently, told the Senate President that the result announced did not tally with his records.
The Senate President, however, maintained that he announced the authentic result, saying it was impossible to manipulate since the proceedings were fully recorded with technological device in the gallery.
But following the insistence of Omoworare that the result was manipulated, Mark swiftly asked him to approach the Tribunal if he so wished.
The rowdy session began when Senator Magnus Abe raised a point of order, seeking the Senate intervention in the lingering crisis that had brought legislative activities to a standstill since May, culminating in the controversial impeachment of the speaker, Honourable Otelema Dan-Amachree, on Tuesday.
Senator Abe called attention to the Rivers State police command’s inability to protect the members or intervene in the fracas, while he also faulted the impeachment of the speaker by five lawmakers out of the 32 members of the assembly.
Calling on the Senate to wade into the matter, he said, “after about 63 days that the assembly could not sit, it received a communication from the governor that he wanted to come and make some alterations in the state budget and the assembly wrote to the police and decided to reconvene.
“When they met in the premises of the Assembly, there was a faction of the House, five members of the House out of a total of 32 members came into the assembly and tried to impeach or destabilise the assembly and beat up the speaker, the majority leader and other members of the assembly who were forced to run out and they tried to impeach the speaker with five members.
“Rivers assembly has 32 members and a quorum should be 11 members. Be that as it may, the majority members were able to come back and then, the assembly sat but before that happened, there was a fracas, there was a fight and several honourable members were injured.”
He lamented that the assembly complex was directly opposite the River State police command headquarters, adding that “because of the letter the speaker had written to the Commissioner of Police, the assumption was that the policemen were there to protect him and all members of the House of Assembly but unfortunately, that was not the case.”
Senator Mark condemned the show of shame in Rivers State and described the incident as an embarrassment to legislators, maintaining that the political impasse in the state was unacceptable and should be condemned in its possible strongest term.
“I believe that this Senate must take urgent step to protect democracy and to protect this country and to ensure that democracy continues to grow and improve in the country.
“Senator Abe has raised a very serious issue and it is proper that we take steps to ensure that the Rivers State House of Assembly is restored to normalcy, so that they can continue their activities in terms of legislation.
“In order for us to get the fact so that we don’t operate by the things that we see and hear from the media, it is appropriate to send our committee to investigate for us.
“I appeal to all the parties involved to sheath their swords until we are able to get a feedback from our committee and we are able to get a resolution. Let me state here in very clear terms that this Senate will do everything possible, even if it means sacrificing our blood to uphold the constitution of this country,” he said.
ACN, presidency trade words
THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) called on the National Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan, over his alleged bias in the handling of the political crises in Rivers State.
The opposition party blamed the president for the escalation of the crisis that led to a controversial change of leadership in the state House of Assembly.
It reasoned that Jonathan deserved impeachment, because he failed to live up to his oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said by his alleged unmistakable support for a group of lawmakers who were formenting trouble in the state, the president had become a clear and present danger to the country’s democracy, and must be shown the way out in accordance with the constitution.
According to the party, “Under President Jonathan’s watch, a few lawmakers dictated to majority of the members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, which was locked for a long time; five lawmakers - out of 32 - have become the majority and, simply because they have the backing of the presidency, are now being given police protection to disrupt the proceedings of the Rivers Assembly.”
It lamented that the state commissioner of police had turned himself into a politician and abandoned his constitutional role of providing security for the assembly.
Reacting, the presidency distanced President Jonathan from the ongoing crisis in the Rivers State, condemning the opposition ACN for trying to link it to the president.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, raised concern over a statement attributed to ACN’s spokesman, Alhaji Mohammed, adding that “once again, this position of the ACN is another condemnable, extremist and fundamentally flawed position by the opposition party.”
He said “for the avoidance of doubt and at the risk of repetitiveness, we wish to state categorically that in spite of what the ACN will want the Nigerian people to believe, President Jonathan is absolutely unconnected and definitely not involved in the political crisis that seemed to have engulfed Rivers State in recent times.
“The president is not, has not and will never engineer any act that can cause disaffection between Governor Amaechi or any other governor and the state legislature or any other institution of government.
“To avid watchers of Nigerian politics, President Jonathan has not shown himself as a person who will deploy his immense constitutional powers against any governor or democratic institution to achieve personal goals.”
Okupe observed that the call by the ACN for the impeachment of the president was “based on these frivolous, unsubstantiated allegations,” adding that it was now increasingly obvious that “the desperation of the ACN to bullishly acquire power by all means and at all cost, including mindless precipitation of anarchy, disaffection and breakdown of public order is the driving force behind their incessant, irresponsible and unpatriotic politics of hate and deceit and their high propensity to fan the embers of national discord, disunity and social disorder.”
The presidency called on parliamentarians and the general public to ignore and disregard “the self-serving and unpatriotic call” by the ACN for impeachment of the president.
Similarly, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned in strong terms, the ACN’s statement seeking to drag the president into the Rivers State crisis.
According to a statement issued by its acting national publicity secretary, Mr Tony Caesar Okeke, the statement, which also called for the impeachment of the president, was “malicious and the height of political irresponsibility.”
It accused the opposition of seeking to aggravate the situation in the state for selfish reasons.
“President Jonathan has continued to display commitment, candour and sincerity in handling national issues. It is, therefore, a sign of frustration, desperation and defeat for the opposition to call for the impeachment of the president on account of the issues in Rivers State,” the statement said.

Amaechi, Wike’s supporters in bloody clash
Economic, commercial and administrative activities were paralysed in some parts of Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, as the legislative crisis in the state escalated.
Situation broke down further on Wednesday when members of the five anti-Amaechi lawmakers, in company with some members of the Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI), attempted to access the House of Assembly complex at about 8.00 a.m, but were denied access by security operatives.
There were reports that members of the 27 lawmakers, including the speaker, Dan-Amachree, were also scheduled to converge for the day’s session by 10.00 a.m.
Some persons suspected to be thugs were seen loitering on Moscow Road, where the House of Assembly complex was situated, a development that prompted the police to barricade the two ends of the road, preventing movement of persons around the area.
The police also evacuated the Assembly complex of all members and staffers to prevent a repeat of Tuesday’s mayhem. A few canisters of teargas were fired in the area to disperse the gathering crowd of suspected thugs around the area.
Speaking on why the police evacuated the Assembly complex in the morning and increased security watch in the area, the spokesperson of the state police command, Angela Agabe, said the command sensed there was going to be a breach of peace, adding that police had not locked the complex.
“There was a letter to the Commissioner of Police that the House of Assembly members will be sitting today. But this morning, there was a crowd of people around the whole place and it was about to cause a breach of the peace in the state. So we had to disperse them,” she said.
A primary school within the vicinity, Township State School, Moscow Road, was hurriedly dispersed as one of the canisters of teargas fell within its compound and pupils were seen scampering for safety.
Nigerian Tribune observed that at about 9.30 a.m, people were seen moving on the road leading towards Marine Base and Easter-Bypass with their arms raised, with armed anti-riot policemen taking spots on the junctions linking Moscow Road from the two ends.
Real fracas, however, broke out at the entrance of the Government House when some youths, under the aegis of the Ikwerre Youths Movement (IYM), who had gone to Government House demanding the removal of Mbu, clashed with members of the GDI, a group drawing leadership from Minister of State for Education, Wike.
Members of GDI had maintained a post opposite the Post Office on Station Road, but trouble started when one of their members, reportedly walking past the entrance of the Government House, was apprehended by members of the IYM, accusing him of an attempt at attacking them.
The apprehension of their comrade by members of IYM drew the attention of the GDI members over to the front of the Government House, after which a free-for-all ensued.
It took the intervention of police back-up to quell the fight and by the time it was all over, wrecks left behind included broken bottles, pebbles and two casualties, including a man shot near the shoulder.
The person who was shot, however, claimed that he was shot by the police during the fracas that ensued.
At about 11.40 a.m, a crowd of people who had gone to the Government House and were waiting at the gates could be seen with their hands raised up, after which several shots of teargas were seen fired and smokes engulfing the entire entrance of the Government House.
A source alleged that the arrival of policemen from the police headquarters was not to help solve the crisis, but to take sides, saying they were shooting teargas into the government and succeeded in injuring some persons who had paid a solidarity visit to the governor.
Meanwhile, commercial activities in some parts of Port Harcourt were shut down on Wednesday, just as activities in the state secretariat, situated in the heart of the axis of the city.
Some banks on Azikiwe Road were seen shut, just as some business offices around same place shut down early.
At about 11.00 a.m when the Nigerian Tribune visited the secretariat, the place was deserted, just as many civil servants were seen leaving to escape the teargas infested atmosphere.
Abe, pro-Amaechi supporters laud Reps’ decision
The senator representing Rivers South-East in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, commended the timely intervention of the House of Representatives in the crisis in Rivers State.
He said the unanimous position of members during the debate on Rivers Assembly crisis rekindled their commitment against undemocratic tendencies now creeping into the national polity.
He said a situation where democratic institutions were abused and crippled by agencies established to protect democracy portended danger at the tunnel.
He urged other democratic institutions in the country not to sit and watch Nigeria’s hard earned democracy thrown to the wind on the altar of political interest.
Also, political elite in Rivers State favourably disposed to the leadership of  the state governor embraced the resolve by the House of Representatives to take over legislative functions in the state, pending the resolution of crisis.
The mood in the pro-Amaechi camp was that the intervention by the federal parliament was timely, giving the tendency to prevent the alleged moves by the presidency to impeach the state governor.
27 lawmakers pledge support to Amaechi
The 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers out of 32 in the State House of Assembly pledged total support and loyalty for Governor Amaechi and urged him to remain firm and not be distracted.
The lawmakers pledged their undivided support and loyalty to Governor Amaechi during a breakfast meeting with him at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
Those unavoidably absent at the meeting were Honourable Chidi Lloyd (House Leader) and Honourable Benibo Anabraba, both hospitalised for injuries sustained on Tuesday, while Honourable Golden Chioma was away on official assignment.
All the 24 pro-Amaechi lawmakers present at the meeting reaffirmed their support for him and lauded him for not being distracted.
They described his achievements as unprecedented and carpetted those fighting him for his fairness and uprightness.  They also predicted his victory with God on his side, while they refuted the claim by the five anti-Amaechi lawmakers that the speaker was impeached.
Amachree, in his solidarity remarks, reaffirmed the total loyalty and support to the governor, adding that the leadership of the assembly was intact.
“I want to reaffirm our total loyalty to you, Your Excellency, as a House,” he said, adding that “we also want to let you know that there was no impeachment yesterday (Tuesday). I still remain the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the other principal officers are still there.”
Also speaking, the deputy speaker, Kwanee Leyii, reassured that they would continue to back Amaechi, noting that there was no change in the leadership.
“The leadership of the current seventh Assembly is totally intact and there is no change. We came to further reassure you (Amaechi) that the seventh Assembly is solidly behind you and together, we will push in ensuring that our people receive the best in terms of democratic dividends.
“We are very proud of you in the manner in which you have conducted yourself so far, even in the face of all the provocations.”
Former speaker, Honourable Tonye Harry, restated that the assembly would not desert Governor Amaechi and disproved the impeachment claim by the dissident lawmakers.
“Rivers House of Assembly is still one under the leadership of Honourable Otelema Dan Amachree. I want to assure you (Amaechi) that all of us (27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers out of 32) will continue to support you till the end of your second tenure,” he said.
For the female member representing Port Harcourt constituency I, Honourable Victoria Nyeche, Governor Amaechi had shown respect for rule of law and maturity in dealing with the crisis in the state.
“I want to join my colleagues to commend His Excellency for his maturity and for specially showing that he has respect for the rule of law, that’s why he brought that small amendment to the House yesterday (Tuesday) for us to do the viament.”
Honourable Wanjoku Azubike of Ikwerre and Honourable Chigbo Eligwe expressed the commitment of the assembly to the Amaechi-led administration and described the impeachment claim as false.
Chief G. U. Ake commended Governor Amaechi for his distinct leadership style and unparalleled achievements and commended the legislators for faithfully supporting Amaechi despite alleged plans by the opposition to buy them over.
Responding, Governor Amaechi stressed the need for good working relationship between the executive and the legislature, adding that there was no need for placing the state under the current siege.
“I thank you for joining me to have this breakfast. It is becoming slightly difficult for members to legislate for the state because of the fact that the police is not able to protect you and because of the fact that the police appear to be on one side and if I did not come with my security yesterday, only God knows what would have happened.
“Please, it’s important that as a House and as a state that we work together and ensure that we don’t allow anybody to distract us because, at the end of the day, the assessment will not be based on who fought us and what was the reason for fighting us, it’s what did we deliver to our people. I say to you that there’s the need for you to continue to remain together,” he said.
Other lawmakers at the meeting included Ewor Nname; Aye A. Pepple; Irene M. Inimgba; Lucky Odili; Augustine Ngo; Josiah John Olu; Ibiso N. Nwuche; Innocent B. Barikor; Ben Horsfall; Legbosi Nwidadah; Brown Onari; Nwaogu Okechukwu Akara; Belema Okpokiri; Felicia Barizasi-Tane; Andrew Anderson Miller; Victor Amadi O. A and Gift Wokocha.
Anti-Amaechi lawmakers react
For Honourable Evans Bipi, “I was duly elected yesterday (Tuesday) as speaker. I came in today (Wednesday) to resume normal duties only to meet Amaechi and his police people there.
“The Police stopped me from going to my office to resume my own legislative duties. I was so embarrassed. I advise my people to be law abiding, peaceful and calm as I am on top of the situation. By tomorrow (today), we will go to the office.”
He said the truth was that Rivers people did not want Governor Amaechi any longer.
Another lawmaker, Victor Ihunwo, said “we came out here today because the former speaker, Tonye Harry, went on air, telling the whole Rivers people that they will sit today and that Rivers people should come and know who the authentic speaker is. “Thank God that they are unable to sit.”
Injured lawmaker, Okechukwu Chinda, on his hospital bed, said on Tuesday, Rivers Assembly elected a new speaker, Evans Bipi. Everything concerning the enthronement of the new speaker was concluded and we are about to leave in peace before the governor broke into our chambers with thugs. Governor Amaechi led group of thugs, including the Government House police and some other security men. They came into the chamber and started beating everybody.”

IG orders investigation into Rivers assembly fracas
The Inspector General of Police has revealed that the Force had launched an investigation into the crisis in the state House of Assembly.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after a meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo, on Wednesday, he remarked that the police had the responsibility to protect all citizens.
Wondering what those who appeared in a video clip of the fracas circulating in the social media were doing at the assembly premises, the police boss disclosed that anyone found wanting would be appropriately punished.
He said he was satisfied with the conduct of the state Commissioner of Police, noting that he had already sent a Deputy Inspector General of Police to Port Harcourt to take charge of the investigation into the crisis.
The Police boss denied that the commissioner was responsible for teargassing Government House on Wednesday, saying, “that is not true. No reasonable commissioner of police will go and tear gas Government House, it is not true.
Abubakar exonerated the state commissioner of police of any blame in the crisis, adding that the police were at the premises of the assembly on official duty.
However, an unformed reports had it that soldiers attached to the Rivers State Government House were, on Wednesday, withdrawn.