Politics
Assembly Probes Kom-Kom Incident
Last week, the Rivers State House of Assembly commenced deliberations to set up standing committees.
Though the House suspended the constituting of the committee till last week, it had initially set up two adhoc committees to investigate the various petitions on the table.
The first Adhoc committee was set up during the 9th Assembly third sitting, when members representing Degema State Constituency, Hon. Anthony Soberekon submitted a petition on behalf of his constituents from Bille community who had suffered frequent pirate attacks in recent times.
With the absence of the House Committee on Public Petitions, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani under order 22 of the House, set up an adhoc committee chaired by member representing Gokana State Constituency, Hon. Dumle Maol to investigate the matter and report back to the House in two weeks time.
Last week at the Assembly, the Hon. Maol led Adhoc committee submitted its report, which was later adopted for further deliberation by the legislators.
However, summarily, Hon Maol said the committee among other issues addressed made recommendations after it met with the stakeholders in the area over the petition.
Among the recommendation made were that the security agencies should investigate the frequent sea piracy along the Port Harcourt-Bille sea route and fish out the miscreants responsible. It also tasked the council authorities in Degema Local Government Area to also beef-up their support to security agencies towards making the sea route safer.
Before the House heard the report of the Maol led committee, it received a petition from member representing Oyigbo State Constituency, Hon Promise Nwankwo over pipeline rupture that killed scores of residents at Kom-Kom in Oyigbo two weeks ago.
The petition was signed by one Chief S. Nazu and Atkins Okorie, indigenes of Kom-Kom community.
The lawmaker accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for failing to respond to the plight of the community, as the pipeline that ruptured was not an act of sabotage, but had rusted and become weak, hence the explosion that killed scores of people living around the area.
Currently, Hon Nwankwo lamented that the water, environment and social life of the people in the area have been adversely affected, stating that since after the incident, no response or palliative measure has been put in place by the authorities involved.
Responding to the petition, the Speaker relying on House Order 22 set up an ad-hoc committee to be chaired by member representing Eleme, Hon Igwe Aforji, to investigate and report back to the House on the matter.
Other members of the ad-hoc committee to investigate the Kom-Kom explosion are members from Tai, Opobo/Nkoro and Oyigbo state constituencies.
Earlier, the Speaker had announced two standing committees to oversee some aspects of the House activities. They are: Rules and Business Committee for the selection of members into various committees and chaired by the majority leader and committee on matters of comfort and convenience of the House. Hon Azeru Opara chairs the committee on convenience and comfort of the House.
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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