Independence: Dep Speaker Urges Sober Reflection

Deputy Speaker of the
Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee, has urged Nigerians to use period of the country’s 53rd anniversary for sober reflection and prayers for the country.
He also urged the political class to learn from history and desist from having rabid ambitions capable of derailing the country.
In a goodwill message to Nigerians, the deputy speaker noted that the development in Rivers State was disturbing and gives cause for concern.
According to him,” a situation where the Governor of the state is denied the power of chief security officer, which is now vested on the commissioner of police does not augur well with the spirit of the constitution.”
Kwanee cited the stoppage of convoy of the Governor and his entourage comprising of former speakers of state Houses of Assembly and the tear-gassing  of newly employed teachers who were waiting to receive their posting letters as examples of impunity taken too far.
He noted that this is in the face of a political group, Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), led by the acting Minister of Education, Chief Nyeson Wike, being allowed to campaign for 2015.
Hon. Kwanee, the current chairman of the parliamentary exchange and mentorship programme of the Pam African Parliament, further said the primary assessment of the present democratic dispensation of Nigeria by the international community is whether the country upholds the rule of law and sanctity of the ballot box, as against what he called “empty promises.”
He thus urged Nigerians to pray for the restoration of peace in the northern part of the country.
In another development, the deputy speaker condemned a statement credited to Chief Wike, alleging that the 27 pro-Governor Chibuike Amaechi lawmakers were seeking asylum n foreign embassies in order to escape from the state.
He explained that save for himself and “a few other lawmakers who went on official duty outside the country, and would be back soon,” the lawmakers are all available.
While advising Wike to be mindful of “what he is doing to Rivers people,” bearing in mind that history will judge him, he     urged the minister to be more concerned with how to resolve the prolonged ASUU Strike than “spreading falsehood.”