The Rivers State House of Assembly has denied allegations of non execution of constituency projects leveled against the immediate past legislature by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Reacting to the allegations which called for the arrest and prosecution of the former speaker, Hon Tonye Harry by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Leader of the Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd described it as “vexation, criminal and a calculated attempt to incite the constituents against members of the Assembly.
Hon Lloyd who represents Emohua constituency made clarifications on constituency projects execution in an exclusive interview The Tide in his office, stating that members only nominated projects and ensured that they were captured in the budget.
He said members of the Assembly were not contractors, but were saddled with the major legislative duties of, appropriation , oversight and lawmaking.
Hon Lloyd who gave the 6th Assembly a clean bill of health over the allegation, further explained that constituency projects were handled by a special unit in the ministry of works, while the members only supervised the execution.
He also called for a sense of responsibility in the adherence to the freedom of information law, which he said, the Publicity Secretary of ACN, Mr Jerry Needam was using as a guise to mislead the people.
Meanwhile, as the Rivers State House of Assembly settles for new parliamentary session, prominent stakeholders have called on the lawmakers to make laws that would bring peace, good governance and speedy development of the state.
Speaking to The Tide in an interview, yesterday, a Senior Advocate of Nigerian of Nigeria and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, O.C.J Okocha said, ‘ it is my expectation that Rivers State House of Assembly will continue to perform its constitutional role and function, which is to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Rivers State”.
He noted that of great significance is the matter of the appropriation of funds to all arms of government particularly the judiciary, saying, “ it will go a long way in securing the administration of justice, maintenance and enforcement of law and order”.
The former NBA boss also urged the state Assembly to take very seriously the performance of its oversight functions and ensure that it duly carried out this responsibility.
Corroborating Okocha’s views, the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Barr Ledum Mitte said the people expect the State House of Assembly members to rise to the occasion to carry out their constitutional duties to the betterment of the ordinary people.
He added that the people would expect the Assembly to make more pro-poor legislations and should rise to their oversight functions over all the arms of government.
Zeroing on the Ogonis, Mittee urged the representatives of the Ogonis in the House of Assembly to have a regular consultation with the people so that it becomes a two-way mechanisms where government polices are explained to the people and the people’s thinking are understood and taken back to government.
His words, “We will not want to see our representatives become part of what the Ogonis see as oppression on their part. For instance the rumour that Military Barracks was coming to Ogoni. This is what we expect our representatives to express their views on”.
Taneh Beemene
