Stop Parading As Speaker, APC Warns Bipi

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the leader of the six rebel lawmakers in the state, Hon. Evans Bipi, to desist from further parading himself as Speaker of the State House of Assembly or risk spending his Christmas in the prison.

APC Interim State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, who stated this  in a statement issued yesterday in Port Harcourt noted that the lawmaker  was obviously playing with fire as he had been barred from parading himself as Speaker by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the State Chairman of the party,Chief Chukwuemeka Eze said the order of the High Court of Rivers State, Ahoada Judicial Division given on Monday, December 16, 2013, was unequivocal.

According to  Ikanya, “Hon. Bipi should also note that none of his undemocratic sponsors will come to his aid when he is committed to prison.

“His Lordship, Hon. Justice C. N. Wali in his judgement did not only bar Hon. Bipi but also declared that we have one single House of Assembly in Rivers State under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree. We expect the rebel lawmakers to fall in line and respect the leadership of the House and avoid further heating up of the polity,’’the statement warned.

The party in the statement said: “They should come to terms with the fact that their plot has failed like a pack of cards.”

Ikanya in the statement further described as an abomination the attempt by Hon. Bipi to desecrate the temple of justice by treating the clear declaration of the Ahoada High Court with contempt.

“It was shocking to see in the dailies, Hon. Bipi, in total disdain of court judgement, sign the birthday congratulatory advert for Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesome Wike, as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This is a slap on the face of the judiciary and will not be tolerated as the Rivers State APC will do everything legally possible to see that he pays dearly for any such affront on the judiciary,” Dr. Ikanya stated.

The APC interim state chairman congratulated Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree on his court victory which re-confirmed him, the leader of the 25 loyal lawmakers, as the rightful Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

It would be recalled that the the order was given on, Monday, December 16, 2013.