Sequel to the crisis that rocked the Rivers State House of Assembly which led to the injuring of some lawmakers and near break down of law and order, the National Assembly has directed the Director General of the Department of Security Services to investigate Hon. Evans Bipi, the lawmaker representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency who parades himself as Speaker of the Assembly, for the role he played during the fracas, and if found culpable, should be prosecuted.
It also urged the DSS to investigate and recommend for necessary disciplinary action the officers and men of the police and other security personnel that invaded the Assembly chambers.
These were some of the resolutions of the Senate after the Senate Committee on Local Government and State has investigated the crisis of the Rivers State House of Assembly and submitted its report.
Presenting the report the chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya also recommended that the Senate and House of Representatives take over the functions and duties of the Rivers State House of Assembly in pursuant to section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, pending the resolution of the crisis and restoration of peace.
The Committee also recommended that the Inspector General of Police as a matter of urgency should redeploy the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu since his relationship with Governor Chibuike Amaechi has broken down saying, “that the Senate President should intervene and mediate in the Rivers State political crisis and see to its amicable resolution.
In its findings, the committee observed that “the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9th 2013 was the expression of deep rooted political crisis, occasioned by alleged high handedness of governor Amaechi and the perceived undue interference with the political and security structure of the state by President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife and the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the panel’s report, “the purported impeachment of the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree by five lawmakers led by Evans Bipi was not in compliance with the provisions of section 92(2) (c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and also not in conformity with order 12 and 28 of the State Assembly Standing Order.
The Chairman Senate Committee also requested that the security operatives withdrawn from Amaechi be restored back to him.
The Senate President, David Mark in his remark said the Senate was committed to ensuring peace in the matter.
Senator Mark added that the minority members of the State House of Assembly cannot remove and should not contemplate the removal of the Speaker or anyone else for that matter and should dump the thought if they ever harboured it.
According to him, “our institution of state should also uphold the constitution at all times and should not in any way encourage the impression that the impunities of the past are possible today. This National Assembly for the avoidance of doubt will resist impunity and unconstitutionality, this is the stand of the Senate”, Mark declared. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
