Lawmakers Cast Votes At Units

Penultimate week, the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani and other members of the Assembly cast their votes in the various constituencies they represent during the concluded presidential elections.
Rt. Hon. Ibani cast is vote in Ataba in Andoni Local Government Area of the State, while other top principal officers, including the Majority Leader, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, the Chief Whip, Hon. Evans Bipi and Minority Leader, Hon. Anabrabra all voted in their various wards.
Consequently, the Speaker and top politicians in Andoni condemned the violence and murder of former Andoni LGA Chairman, Mr. Monwan Etete on 23rd February, 2019.
He pleaded for calm and urged all parties to be peaceful as they await the outcome of police investigations and report following the incident that occurred in Asarama Town on the day of the presidential elections.
Condemnation has equally trailed the arrest and arraignment of member representing Ahoada-West in the House, Hon. Wanaka Okpokiri together with Commissioner for Urban Development, Mr Reason Onyia by the military during the just concluded presidential elections.
Hon. Okpokiri who pleaded not guilty to charges that he and Reason contravened electoral laws was released by a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt last week.
The lawmaker described his arrest as politically motivated as he explained that he only expressed his fundamental human rights, and never breached the law in anyway after casting his ballot.
Okpokiri accused the military of complicity in aiding the opposition to upturn the people’s wish, as he maintained that all forms of intimidation and harassment of the PDP chieftains in the area would not yield any fruit to those who want to oppress the people.
Meanwhile, lawmaker representing Akuku-Toru Constituency I, Hon. Major Jack has called on the people of the area to embrace peace and brotherliness. He frowned at the violence that empted in the area during the last presidential elections.
Hon. Jack who is also the Deputy Chief Whip in the House noted that the people of the area are peace-loving and hospitable, as he frowned at the level of bitterness now erupting in the area.
He expressed optimism that the peace moves initiated by the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Bob-Manuel would create peace ahead the guber and State Assembly elections.
Recall that last Thursday, top members of the Rivers State Government, including the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike visited Abonnema for all memorial service in mourning those who lost their lives during the violence that took place during the last presidential elections.
Already, the state government has set up a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo in identifying those who died including soldiers who lost their lives during the crisis.