Dates are important in the activities of men. Without dates records of human activities or achievements cannot be kept. Dates aid human beings to understand the past that will help them to predict the future. Some dates are important, while others are not. In Nigeria, October 1 and May 29 every year are important as the federal government declare these two dates as national holidays.
July 9, 2013 has become a significant date in the history of Rivers State. No historian will forget that eventful date in a hurry, it was a day when the only democratic structure, that is the legislative organ shook to its foundation as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree was impeached. And another speaker emerged in person of Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, a lawmaker representing Ogu/Bolo constituency in the House.
During the impeachment, the lawmakers were engaged in free for all fight and in the process blood spills.
The lawmaker representing Emohua Constituency, Chief Hon. Chidi Lloyd played the role of a “cowboy” and “knocked” down a colleague, Hon. Michael Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor Constituency. II Chief Hon. Lloyd’s “primitive behaviour” was condemned by lovers of democracy and a decent society.
Since after the July 9 fracas in the RSHA, the Rivers Assembly has never known peace. The legislative arm of the government which is most essential in any democratic society has been grounded in the state.
Though Dan Amachree still parades himself as the Speaker of RSHA, but he is yet to gain access to the Assembly complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, rather holds sitting with his factional members in the Government House.
In an ideal democratic setting there is separation of powers which encourages political emancipation.
According to Harold J. Laski in his book, “An Introduction To Politics” he stated that, “At least since the time of Aristotles it has been the constant postulate of political philosophy that in every well-ordered state these three types of body (executive, legislature and judiciary) should be separated from one another both as to the function they perform and the persons who are their members.
Some thinkers, Montesquieu for example, have even gone so far as to claim that their separation is the secret of political freedom.”
Dan Amachree’s faction of the State Assembly has collapsed into the Executive Organ of the government headed by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. This according to Montesquieu’s idea of separation of powers could lead to tyrannical rule and political slavery.
What has happened in the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013 no doubt hinder the enactment of good laws that will usher in the needed development into the state.
Let us declare July 9 as a day democracy crumbled in Rivers State. ###
Damiete West
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