Dep Speaker Tasks Youth On Democracy Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly,

Hon. Leyii Kwanee last week urged the youths in the state not to appraise democracy within the perspective of what transpired at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) elections held last month.

He made the call as he played host to a delegation of the Niger Delta Students Union Government (NDSUG) led by its National President, Obada Akpomiemie, in his office.

Hon Kwance explained to the students why they should not view the nation’s democracy in light of the outcome of the NGF election in which he said the state Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi won by a higher vote, but  with Jonah Jang’s supporters forming a faction with parallel secretariat in Abuja. He expressed worry over the thought that children and the youth would perceive democracy from the outcome of the NGE election, a situation capable of corrupting their minds and hence might spell doom for Nigeria in the future. He stated that elections and democracy were not subject to manipulations, while expressing optimism that at the end of the day, democracy would prevail, in spite of the activities of what he called anti-democratic  forces.

The Deputy Speaker, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Exchange and Mentorship Programme of the Pan-African Parliament, noted that Nigeria was passing through a turbulent time, urged the youth to note that democracy was the best system of governance. He charged them to shun any act capable of derailing free and fair elections, and ensure that they do things right as leaders of tomorrow and the hope of the nation.

The Deputy Speaker was responding to an earlier condemnation of the outcome of the NGF election by Akpaniemie. The NDSUG President had decribed it as a mockery of democracy, saying that its shameful and unexpected.  On Friday,  a Port Harcourt High Court presided over by Justice Adolphus Enebeli fixed July 29, 2013 to deiver  judgment on a suit between the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree and the State Police Command.

The suit, filed by counsel to the Speaker, Mr Emenike Ebete, is seeking a court order to restrain the police from arresting and interrogeating the Speaker over his concerns on alleged plots to assassinate the State Governor and cause instability and disorder in the state.

In his submission, Mr Ebete urged the court to sustain his application, while quashing the counter affidavit filed by counsels to the defendants for lack of evidence.

He argued that the open letter to the president, on which the defendants based tier counter-affidaut was not signed by anybody, and hence could not be used to investigate the speaker.

While acknowledging that the police had the constitutional right to investigate anybody, Ebete emphasised that there must however, be a provable allegation against the person.

He also submitted that the police were already biased in the matter and so should not be the ones to investigate the matter, alleging that the Feix Obuah –led PDP was using the police to compel the Assembly to reverse its suspension of the Obio/Akpor chairman and councilors, a matter, which he said bordered on abuse of fundamental human rights.

Meanwhile, as had been the case since the House adjourned since die in March, 2013 following the lingering crises in the state chapter of the ruling PDP, there had been a lull in all other activities in the Assembly complex. The usual smartness and seriousness with which people went about their daily chores in the complex and missing.

From the security personnel at the gate, through the security details attached to the complex by the state police command, to the various workers in the complex, it has been all dull moment. One does not need a soothsayer to know that the long absence of the legislators has taken its toll on all other activities in the complex.      Occasionally, groups of two, three, and above gather to analyse the situation. Most of the discussions last week hinged on what they called presidential interference in the affairs of Rivers State. Some blamed the development in the state as a microcosm of the nature of power usage of Nigerian’s politicians.

This later group blamed the development on the reluctance of the ruling class to make the constitution supreme for fear of losing the control accorded them by virtue of the power they wield through the positions they occupy. They belief is that if the constitution was surpreme, it will guide everybody at all levels.