Members of the National Assembly from Rivers State have frowned at the  continuous refusal by the Police  to allow members of the Rivers State House of Assembly  access to the legislative complex to carry out their duties after an Abuja High Court  had vacated the powers of the National Assembly over the House.

Federal lawmakers representing Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Dakuku Peterside and that of Ogba/Egbema and Ahoada West, Hon.Honourable Asita said they were delegated by the Rivers caucus of the National Assembly alongside other federal legislators representing Rivers State to confirm the refusal of the lawmakers into the Assembly complex by men of the Nigeria Police in Rivers State.

Hon. Peterside said, “We were informed from Abuja that our Rivers State House of Assembly is on fire.  The Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly, including Senator Magnus Ngei Abe representing Rivers South-East Senatorial district, Senator Wilson Ake of Rivers West senatorial district and ten (10) members of the House of Representatives had sent a delegation to confirm the refusal of the pro-Amaechi lawmakers into the Rivers State House of Assembly after it obtained judgment from a Federal High Court to commence its legislative functions as provided by law.  Every Rivers person and all Nigerians and indeed the world have heard the Abuja Federal High Court Judgment…democracy is still on trial.

Honourable Asita urged the police to uphold its integrity and ensure peace returns to the Assembly.

For the second day on Friday, the police in Rivers State had barred the lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly from entering the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt. Former Police spokesman in Rivers State, Uche Chuwuma who led the police team told the legislators that the Police were yet to receive orders from Abuja.

Following an Abuja High Court judgement, the lawmakers had gone to the Assembly complex last Thursday, but were stopped by a team of policemen from accessing the complex.  The lawmakers and other officials of the House were dispersed with teargas and gunshots when they insisted on carrying out their legislative duties.

Moreover, the State Police authorities told the lawmakers outside the Assembly complex that since there were two factions in the House it would not allow any of the two groups to gain entrance until it gets a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

Divisional Police Officer DPO in  Omoku, Uche  Chukwuma who led the police team told the lawmakers  “we are aware that your matter is a legal issue. We are professionals and will not allow any of the two Assembly factional groups to gain entrance into the Assembly complex, because the two groups have similar interest.  The police is assuring you that the Assembly complex will remain closed until we get further directives from the Inspector-General of Police at Abuja”.

When plastic chairs were brought for the lawmakers to sit outside the Assembly complex, the police refused to allow the lawmakers sit on the chairs. This infuriated the lawmakers who then proceeded to sit on the floor of the road (Moscow road) leading into the Assembly. While siting on the road, the legislators sang solidarity songs and praise and worship songs to God.

Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers said, the Assembly members had on Thursday, December 12th at about 8a.m in the morning attempted to gain access to the Assembly complex following the Federal High Court judgment restraining the National Assembly from carrying out the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

According to him, “we are here again today, Friday, December 13, 2013 to gain access to perform our legislative functions and we were also prevented again by the police.  We hear, the police want to open the Assembly Complex to other five legislators.  But they have assured us that the Assembly complex will remain closed”.

Hon. Leyii Kwanne also said, the legislators are working out modalities to file a legal action against the police for deliberately refusing to obey court orders and vehemently disallowing the lawmakers from exercising their constitutional powers in the current democratic dispensation.

“The interest of Rivers people cannot be jeopardized by the police, because the business of lawmaking is constitutional and lawful. We were democratically elected by our people at the grassroots.  We will not continue to allow police impunity on our peoples rights in Rivers State”, Hon. Leyii Kwane said.

Also speaking, leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd said: “the police have told us that the reason why it could not allow the Pro-Amaechi legislators is because it is protecting lives and property.  The police have also told us that, none of the two factional Assembly groups will gain entrance.  We will continue to wait until the police conclude.

However, the world is watching, what is been destroyed is Rivers interest and the voice of our people, but we will ensure dividends of democracy to our people.  Only recently we mourn the death of late Nelson Mandela, and the world honoured him because he fought apartheid in South Africa.  I know all you here and our people have resilience, we urge you to wait patiently, because nothing good comes easy”, Chidi Lloyd explained.

Port Harcourt Grand President, Brig. Gen. George Ikioumoton (left) with Director, Business Development, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Valentine Ugboma, during the Thanksgiving Service of newly inducted Knights of St. John International at St. Mary Commandery, Atali, Port Harcourt, yesterday.