Speaker Leads Lawmakers To PDP Convention

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly participated in the last concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP presidential primaries held last weekend at the Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Speaking of the House, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji-Ibani led other lawmakers at the convention. Other lawmakers include the Majority Leader, Martin Amaewhule, Deputy Speaker, Marshall Uwom and other top members of the House who participated in the event, which lasted for two days.
However, penultimate week, the Assembly sat and screened two commissioner-nominees, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasah and Dr. Zacheaus Adango.
After the screening and confirmation, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to forward their names to the state Governor for swearing-in.
Before the commissioners were screened, the legislators debated the non-inclusion of Rivers State among the NEMA emergency fund for flood affected states.
The lawmakers condemned the action of the Federal Government which denied Rivers State benefitting from the fund even when parts of the state were being ravaged by flood.
Member representing Ahoada-West in the House, Hon. Wanaka Ogboka Okpokiri raised the first motion calling on the Federal Government to do something urgent as his constituents were suffering from the effect of the flooding, which currently has sacked about 13 communities.
Part of the motion raised by Hon. Okpokiri was to compel the Federal Government to compel oil multinationals operating in the area to provide support, and relief materials as part of their corporate social responsibility.
In the same vein, Hon. Nathaniel Uwaji of Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Constituency II described the action of the Federal Government as being insensitive to the plight of Rivers people. “To be in opposition is now a crime”, he added.
Hon. Uwaji pointed out that 45% per cent of oil and gas resource from Rivers State comes from the constituency which has been neglected.
The debate on the flooding shifted to a more broader perspective where Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Amaewhule talked about the Paris Club refund. Amachule said by asking for a refund, the Federal Government wants to starve the state of funds.
The Majority Leader’s motion sparked debate, which finally led to the division of the House, and votes. Majority supported, among others, to petition the National Assembly, the United Nations and to organise a world press conference to highlight to the world how Rivers State is being marginalised by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Later on, the House treated the bill to amend the laws of the Rivers State College of Health Science Technology and Management. The bill was debated and sent for public hearing, after which it will be further deliberated upon.