The political crisis in Rivers State took a dangerous turn on
Tuesday July 9th, 2013 in the State House of Assembly as 5 members of the house
moved to sack the Speaker, Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree.
The African Opinion learnt that the process to remove
Otelemaba Dan Amachree was spearheaded by Hon. Evans Bipi who was alleged in
some quarters to be the backbone of the group opposed to Dan Amachree’s
headship of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Reports earlier today revealed that the leadership of the
House had changed, with Bipi who represents Ogu/Bolo Constituency being elected
Speaker. The report got many preoccupied how Amachree would manage the
situation in the House. In the ensuing impeachment process, the already tense
situation worsened and thugs pounced on the House while some of the lawmakers engaged
in free-for-all, which consequently left a number of them wounded. Reports alleged
that “Bipi reportedly led a number of thugs into the House which reconvened at
9.45 am after some weeks break and the hoodlums went straight to attack the
Majority Leader, Hon Chidi Lloyd. There are reports that the Majority Leader is
already in hospital, also hospitalized are Martins Amaehule and Michael Chinda.
Bipi who took over the position of the Speaker announced the
suspension of 15 members of the House.
Meanwhile, after the fracas, Hon Amachree who was
purportedly impeached presided over a sitting of the House in which the
supplementary budget request sent to the House by Governor Amaechi was
approved.
There have been speculations that the Speaker’s impeachment
is just a plot within a plot which has Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the main
target”.
Following the above scenario, press statements have
continued to filter in, congratulating the new leadership of the Rivers State
House of Assembly. Below is a full test
of the statements:
1. PDP Congratulates New Assembly
Speaker
The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the new Speaker of the State House of
Assembly, Rt. Hon Evans Babakaya Bipialaka.
The Party said by the unanimous
election of the new Speaker, the state lawmakers have once again demonstrated
the unity and sense of purpose that characterized the hallowed chamber before
the crisis.
The party expressed optimism that the
normal House proceedings which had been stalled for months now due to executive
interruption will now pick up with the new House leadership.
The PDP also felicitated with other
principal officers of the House elected alongside Rt Hon Evans Bipialaka and
wish them smooth and successful outing.
The party called for law and order from
all PDP faithful and the people of Rivers State, and enjoined all the lawmakers
to give their maximum co-operation to the new House leadership.
It could be recalled that due to the
suspension of some recalcitrant members of the State legislature and the
stalling of House proceedings, the lawmakers reconvened this morning, Tuesday,
March 9, 2013 to take far reaching decisions including the impeachment of the
former Speaker, Rt. Hon Otelemaba Dan Amachree and his team to bring the
legislature back to business.
Signed
Barr Monday Oyenzeowu
State Publicity Secretary
PDP, Rivers State
July 9, 2013
2. Political Groups Laud Rivers Assembly on Resumption
of Sitting,
Election of Principal Officers
The Rivers Action Group, (R.A.G) and Rivers
Integrity Group, (R.I.G) today, during a joint session, received with
commendation the report of resumption of a successful sitting of the Rivers
State House of Assembly during which it took statutory decisions and actions
that would help propel the development and smooth governance of the State.
The political groups expressed satisfaction with
the House resolutions and further actions in impeaching the Speaker, Rivers
State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree and subsequent
suspension of about 25 other members of the Assembly.
The two leading political voices in Rivers State
also lauded members of the Assembly, particularly the five Lawmakers for
championing the cause of justice that has brought sanity to the Legislative Chamber
after months of inactivity.
While congratulating the new Speaker of the Rivers
State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, member representing Ogu-Bolo
constituency in the State House of Assembly, on his emergence to the hallowed
position, the Rivers Action Group and the Rivers Integrity Group also commended
the House on taking such lofty feat and urged them to maintain the tempo in the
interest of the government and people of the state.
The group also noted with contentment the
resolution and action of the House to lift the suspension placed on Obio/Akpor
Chairman, Vice Chairman, and 17 councilors earlier suspended by 27 members.
Also congratulated are other Principal Officers of
the House, which include the new Deputy Speaker, Hon Martins Amaehule, and
House Leader, Hon Kelechi Nwogu who also emerged successful after the election
of principal officers by the House Members.
The groups believe that with the election of the
new Speaker and inauguration of other principal officers of the House, the
people of the various state constituencies can now be sure of proper
legislation and check and balances among the three arms of government in the
state.
While regretting an avoidable crisis situation
created by the weakness and inefficiency of the former leadership of the House
under Hon Otelemaba Dan Amachree, leading to compromise and abandonment of
legislative responsibilities, the Rivers Action Group and Rivers Integrity Group
urge the people of the state to repose their confident in the present
leadership under Rt Hon Evans Bipi as Speaker, as it is poised to deliver on
promise.
Signed
Comrade Lebari Deedum Deeyor
Chairman, R.A.G
Comrade Nyekazi Worlu
Secretary, R.A.G
Comrade Joseph Peter Chuku
Co-ordinator, R.I.G
Comrade Peter Ololee Mene
Director Media/Publicity, R.I.G
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