RVHA Crisis: Rivers People, Lagos Assembly Hail NASS Intervention

Eminent lawyers and other stakeholders across Rivers State have welcomed the resolution by the Federal House of Representatives to takeover the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
A cross section of stakeholders, who spoke to The Tide in an opinion poll also welcomed the resolution, urging the Inspector General of Police  to redeploy the state commissioner of police, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu.
Barrister Chijioke Agi, a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner said that the resolution was in order following the factionalisation of the House.
According to him, for purposes of averting further crisis, it is constitutional that the National Assembly wade into the matter.
He said that within the period the resolution will last, it is expected that both factions of the Rivers State House of Assembly would learn their lessons with a view to giving peace a chance in the state.
On the issue of the removal of the Police Commissioner, Barrister Agi said that since the working relationship between the police commissioner and the governor has broken down, it is proper he be redeployed.
Also Speaking, Barrister Forgiven Amachree said that the resolution is good for the state as the situation was getting chaotic by the day.
Barrister Amachree, who is also the secretary of the Rivers State Leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF) further said that Rivers people  have lost confidence in the state commissioner of police, as the police were seen giving protection to five legislators.
He argued that to forestall further breakdown of law and order, it was constitutionally  incumbent on the National Assembly to pass the resolution.
Barrister Amachree also urged the Inspector General  of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to obey the House resolution on the redeployment of the commissioner.
Mr Egerton Egerton, an applicant said that the development will check further crisis in the state but noted that Rivers people need to pray for peace for the state.
In his remarks, factional leader of Rivers Youth Movement (RYM), Prince Fyneface Amaechi also condemned the fracas in the House of Assembly and commended the Federal House of Representatives for its resolution.
Lawmakers in Lagos State have lauded the National Assembly (NASS) for resolving to take over the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) following Tuesday’s free-for-all among the state’s lawmakers.
The commendation was sequel to a motion, which the Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Ajibayo Adeyeye, moved under matters of urgent public importance.
Adeyeye noted that the prompt intervention of the NASS in the crisis would help to resolve it  and sustain democracy in Rivers.
“It is saddening where hoodlums would take over the Assembly to the detriment of peace in the state (Rivers),’’ he said.
Contributing, Mr Sanai Agunbiade (ACN-Ikorodu I), said that although the Constitution provided for the removal of the Speaker of a House of Assembly, lawmakers ought to follow laid-down procedures.
“This ‘abracadabra’ going on in Rivers State poses great danger to our democracy, which we all fought for.
“We have suffered for the emergence of democracy in this country; it should not be allowed to be truncated.
“It is a wrong signal to the upcoming 2015 general elections,’’ he warned.
Also contributing, Mr Segun Olulade (ACN-Epe II), described the fracas as an offshoot of the recent Nigerian Governors’ Forum election, which caused the body to break into two.
Olulade warned that unless adequate measures were introduced to check the crisis, it would  escalate.
Another lawmaker, Abiodun Tobun (ACN-Epe I), suggested that the CP in Rivers, should be sacked rather than replaced, describing his action as a dereliction of duty.
And according to Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola (ACN-Ikorodu II), the development has justified the call for state police.
She noted that the Rivers Governor,Chibuike Amaechi, had “remained powerless’’, in spite of being the state’s chief security officer.
The Chief Whip, Mr Razaq Balogun, urged that the House of Representatives be commended for taking the step it took to save the situation from degenerating any further.
Balogun urged that if the crisis persisted, state Houses of Assembly nationwide should down tools in solidarity with their counterparts in Rivers.
However, the Speaker of the House, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji,  appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the crisis in line with constitutional provisions.
The lawmakers urged the IG, Muhammad Abubakar, to replace the CP, Mr Joseph Mbu, with an “unbiased officer’’.