Politics
Rivers Assembly Reconvenes, Sept
One plenary session hallmarked activities at the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) last week.
Of the 32-member legislature, only 14 lawmakers were present at the plenary where they resolved to commence their 2017 recess. This followed a motion to that effect by the House Chief Whip, Hon Evans Bipi, which was supported by the lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon Michael Chinda.
Moving the motion, Hon Bipi explained the need for the House to embark on recess, saying that the House has met the statutory number of sittings for the year.
He said the vacation was to enable members retire to their various constituencies to brief their Constituents on government activities so far.
Supporting the motion, Hon Chinda said members needed the recess to re-energise and or out other pressing issues in their various constituencies.
Announcing the commencement of the recess, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi –Owaji Ibani said the vacation was to commence just after the plenary and that members shall resume on September 21, 2017.
He said the decision was to give members enough time to refresh themselves for the remaining legislative assignments in the year.
He also said that the recess would also enable various House Committees to tidy up their assignments and prepare their reports for deliberations before the House resumes from the vacation.
The House finally resolved that members should go for break to resume work on September 21, 2017.
The Speaker had before the plenary announced his Appeal Court victory to the House.
Ibani, who thanked members of the House for their support and prayers during the period , said without the love and the understanding of the members, it would have been very stressful to combine the leadership assignment in the House with the matter at the tribunal.
Ibani, who commended the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for standing firm by him, dedicated the victory to Andoni people whose mandate he noted have been confirmed by the tribunal.
The speaker reassured that he will never make empty promises to the people because the Wike administration was built on transparency and commitment to the development of the state.
The Speaker who also announced his 50th birthday by last Wednesday, August 23, 2017, said he gave God all the glory and adoration for spicing his birthday with the Appeal Court victory.
Also last Tuesday, the Speaker played host to members of the Assembly press corps who visited him in his office to congratulate him on his Appeal Court victory.
Speaking on behalf of press corps, Comrade Alwell Ene expressed joy over the Appeal Court judgement.
Ene prayed God to give him strength to pilot the affairs of the House to the glory of God and for the benefit of people of the state.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani thanked the press corps for their concern, reassuring that the Assembly will continue to work with journalists in the state to adequately inform the public on government policies and actions.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
As the news of the defection of 17 members of Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP )to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to make the rounds, a cross section of Rivers people who spoke to The Tide have expressed varying views regarding the development.
At Etche, a senior lecturer with the Rivers State University, who did not want his name in print, said even though defection was the right of politicians, peace and stability remained more fundamental than any action that could further challenge the fragile political situation in the state at the moment.
He also warned that the situation should not be used to witch-hunt any one, adding that the state had suffered enough and needed to be at peace.
In his reaction, Engr Polycarp Geoffrey said even though citizens and residents of the state had cause to be concerned about the decision of the lawmakers, there was nothing to worry about if it was done in good faith.
“I don’t think there is any big deal about it – defection is defection. But people are worried because of past events in the state. So, for me, I don’t see anything about it”, he said.
Engr Geoffrey also urged the Governor Siminalayi Fubara to also openly declare political affiliation in a bid to douse the political tension in the state and to provide clarity regarding his future political direction.
Another respondent, Mr Ebere Alex, alleged ulterior motive behind the law makers’ defection but urged both the law makers and the governor to work for the peace and development of the state.
However, speaking on the development, a chieftain of the PDP in the state, Hon Nname Ewor, told The Tide that said his party would reach out to the remaining lawmakers who have not defected.
He also denied an alleged internal squabble within the PDP, adding that there was no crisis in the party.
It would be recalled that 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, during plenary last Friday, announced their migration from the PDP to the APC, citing internal party crisis.
Other members who also defected were the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Dumle Maol, representing Gokana Constituency; House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, representing Akulga Constituency 1 and Deputy Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, representing Okrika Constituency; Hon. Solomon Wami, Port Harcourt Constituency 1 and Hon Granville Tekena Wellington representing Asari Toru Constituency 1; Hon. Ofiks Kagbang, representing Andoni Constituency; Hon. Peter Abbey representing Degema Constituency; Hon. Arnold Dennis representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency; Hon. Chimezie Nwankwor representing Etche Constituency 2 and Hon. Franklin Nwabochi representing Onelga Constituency 1.
The rest were, Hon. Azeru Opara, representing Port Harcourt Constituency 3; Hon. Smart Adoki representing Port Harcourt Constituency 2; Hon. Igwe Afforji ,Eleme Constituency and Hon. Lolo Opuende representing Akuku Toru Constituency 2.
By: John Bibor
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