Cleansing Of Rivers Assembly Complex: Hope Of Restoration
Cleansing is an important aspect of human life and endeavours. It deals with repositioning a fallen state of living spiritually, physically and socially. Cleansing implies a new hope of survival and rejuvenation as it is associated with removal of dirt or other unwanted or undesirable particles within human or around vicinity.
The Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary defines ‘cleanse’ as “to clean somebody of or from something”. It also literary sees it as “take away somebody’s guilty feelings or sin”.
An action considered as sacrilegious is a very serious offense or an abomination either against a people, institution or God Himself. For instance a lie against the Holy Spirit is said to be an unpardonable offense.
Cleansing cannot be thought of without thinking of why it is necessary at a time. Without being dirty there should be no cleansing.
Precisely July 9th, 2013, the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, where laws that governs or regulates activities of the polity are promulgated was defiled, not even with an ordinary fight or exchange of blows but with blood, and which almost claim lives.
Though the actions were born out of selfish desires and quests for powers and personal enrichment of private purse and bank accounts, whatever the reasons were, an abomination was committed against God and humanity in Rivers State.
The hallowed chambers was defiled when the leader of the house, Chief Hon. Chidi Llyod orchestrated or revealed their already script against their perceived opponents in the house.
That is to say the sanctity of the revered hallowed chambers was meddled with as blood flowed on the floors of the Assembly.
Elected members of that Assembly from the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State represented by 32 constituencies had however deserted the auditorium following the shed of blood resulting from the Chidi’s led fracas.
From that day, loyalty to the leadership of the Assembly was divided as two speakers emerged, and managed the affairs of different factions of the Assembly.
While the Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi’s led faction struggle for reopening of the defiled Assembly, the Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree’s led faction were busy doing the biddings of their pay master and governor of the state, Amaechi as they sit and conduct their meetings right in the heart of the government House.
As the state House of Assembly remains defiled and off-course closed down, it was assumed that activities of the state were also defiled as no meaningful laws were made rather the likes of presentation and passage of a sate budget in hours within same day.
Other reckless behaviour and semblance of atrocity were also carried out by the factional Assembly sitting in government house, when they purportedly amended a section of the High Court rule to mandate a registrar to preside or take over functions of a Chief Judge just within a day.
The evil are numerous but the thrust of this episode is the glaring hope of restoration of the lost glory of the Assembly Complex which was earlier adjudged best in the Federation. If the Complex is restored, it then implies that the citizenry and residents of the state would now enjoy a robust democracy.
While Issues Abattoir fore see hope being rekindle in the state, it is expected that citizens would equally be prepared to contribute their best in making the state a safe heaven for all.
Days ago Issues Abattoir sighted the cleaning of the premises of the State Assembly that was over taken by weeds, unwanted trees, reptiles and others taking a new look. When it inquired, it was in preparation for the inauguration of the eight Assembly coming up soon. The building Complex itself is not left out as the interior is receiving basic attention, courtesy of the Rivers Chapter of the PDP and the incoming administration of the state led by Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
However, with the ongoing physical cleaning of the Assembly Complex, it is believed that the eight Assembly without gainsaying would be inaugurated on that Complex and inside that hallowed chambers.
It is therefore, the concern of Issues Abattoir that while the physical exercise is going on, the Assembly Complex need nothing less than a spiritual cleansing to appease the innocent blood that was poured on the chambers on July 9th, 2013 that led to the closure of the Complex.
Issues Abattoir suggests that pastors be engaged to perform the exercise before ever the Complex be put into use, considering that blood is a powerful spiritual tool particularly to avert similar incident in the chambers now or some other time.
Again, as the State House of Assembly is under going this cleansing, it is also the suggestion of Issues Abattoir that the state judiciary be given same attention since it would also be reopen for business soon as earlier promised by the governor-elect even before his election.
As the indigenes and residents of the state awaits these cleansing, it is ripe to say kudos to the federal high court sitting in Owerri the Imo State Capital for performing the first judicial cleansing by allowing the swearing-in of the governor-elect Barr. Wike to have a smooth ride when it decline jurisdiction over the matter to stop the swearing-in of the governor-elect on May 29.
It is also another victory for democracy and kudos for Judiciary when the Attorney General and Minister for Justice Mohammed Adoki directed the Chief Justice of Bayelsa State to perform the swearing-in ceremony of the Rivers State governor-elect on May 29.
Meanwhile, whatever is worthy, right and good to be done, it is expected that time is of essence in doing it, hence the cleansing be done without further delay, knowing that, May 29 is only but Nine (9) days ahead.
With James Mgboineme
jamesthenewswriter@gmail.com.
