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Tag: Rivers

  • We’ll defend Rivers from political predators, Pro-Amaechi lawmakers vow

    We’ll defend Rivers from political predators, Pro-Amaechi lawmakers vow

    The 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday vowed to defend the state from ‘political predators’ in the crisis that has pitched Governor Rotimi Amaechi against forces from within and outside the state.

    They warned one of the five suspended pro-Wike members,Evans Bapakaye Bipi, to desist from impersonating Speaker Otelemaba Amachree,whose mandate,according to them remains intact.

    However,the Obuah-led faction of the PDP in the state faulted the pro-Amaechi legislators and said all available evidence “ clearly show that the former Speaker, Rt Hon Otelemaba Dan Amachree was procedurally impeached, creating room for the election of the new Speaker, Rt Hon Evans Bipi.”

    The pro-Amaechi lawmakers made the declaration in a statement signed by 26 of them.

    They did not say who the ‘political predators’ are, although observers believe they could be referring to officials of the Presidency who are said to have more than a passing interest in the unfolding events in the state.

    Bipi,is a protégé of First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

    The First Lady personally attended his wedding in Port Harcourt,last month, during which vehicular movement in many parts of the city was restricted for ‘security reasons’.

    Gov.Amaechi was a victim of the restriction.

    In a statement entitled ‘Our Position’, yesterday, 26 of the lawmakers declared their intention to “defend our state from political predators scavenging for cheap popularity and a harvest of political fortunes.”

    They asked the public to ignore Bipi’s claim to the leadership of the Assembly,saying:”Following the reconvening of the House on 9th of July, 2013, five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (Evans Bipi, Okechukwu Michael Chinda, Kelechi Nwogu, Victor Ihunwo and Martins Amaewhule) in alliance with the Rivers State Police Command and their thugs, carried out unprovoked attack and assault on members including the Speaker (Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree), the Leader of the House (Hon. Chidi Lloyd) and Hon. Wanjoku Chikere Azubuike.

    “Thereafter they made a spirited but unsuccessful attempt to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in obvious disregard of the amplifying procedures set out in section 92 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeraia Order 12 and Order 28 of the standing orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

    “Since the botched impeachment attempt, one Hon. Evans Bipi has rather surreptitiously impersonated the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in Defiance and gross violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has gone ahead to make publications in the national media. We hereby call on the public to disregard the impostor (Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi) and his fabricated fallacies which are targeted at misinforming the general public.”

    Defending their suspension of the Obio/Akpor Local Governmet Council,one of the factors that triggered the political crisis in the state,the 27 lawmakers said provisions of section 4 sub (6) and (7) (a-c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) vests the Assembly with legislative powers to make laws for the peace, governance and order of the state.

    Their words: “ Section 7(1) of the constitution says it is the responsibility of the House of Assembly to make laws for the existence, establishment, composition, structure, finance and functions of Local Councils. Section 100(1-5) further espouses the powers of the Assembly to make laws. Thus in line with the above provisions the Rivers State House of Assembly enacted the Local Government Law of Rivers State No.2 of 2012. Section 64 sub-section (1)-(4) of the Local Government Law of Rivers State No.2 of 2012 gives the power of suspension of Local Government Council to the Assembly.

    “In compliance with the above provisions, when the question was put on the interim report on the committee on local government on the issue. 23 members voted for the suspension and 5 members voted against.”

    The position of only five members of the Assembly,they insisted,can neither override that of the 27 majority nor inhibit the Assembly’s legislative duties.

    “In compliance with our legislative duties, we have had cause to vote on motions, bills and resolutions that have impacted positively on the citizens of Rivers state, and if a tiny minority of 5 out of 32 members have dissenting views, that does not impugn on the views of the majority,” they said and affirmed their continued support for Speaker Amachree and Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    They also pledged their cooperation with the DIG Philemon Leha led fact-finding team sent by the Inspector General of Police as well as the Senate Committee on Local Government fact-finding mission but vowed to have nothing to do with another team of Police Officers led by a commissioner of police and Senator George T. Sekibo.

    The Rivers lawmakers asked the Federal Government to ensure the restoration of peace to the state and pledged their determination to fight “for the truth and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we swore to uphold. We shall remain resolute in our resolve to defend our state from political predators scavenging for cheap popularity and a harvest of political fortunes.”

    Signatories to the statement were: Honourables Golden Ngozi Chioma; Innocent B. Barikor; Josiah John Olu; Ibiso Nwuche; Belema Okpokiri; Legbosi Nwidadah; Andrew Anderson Miller; Augustine Ngo; Ben Horsfall; Okechukwu Nwaogu; Victor Amadi; Azubike Chikere Wanjoku; Victoria Nyeche; Benibo Anabraba; Irene Inimgba; Felicia Barizasi-Tane; Aye Atamah Pepple; Onari Brown; Gift Wokocha; Ewor Nname Robinson; Lucky Odili; Chidi Julius Lloyd; Chigbo Eligwe; Leyii Kwanee; Tonye Harry and the Speaker Otelemaba Amachree.

    Reacting to the pro-Amaechi legislators’ statement,the the Special Adviser on Media to the factional PDP Chairman ,Mr.Jerry Needam, said Bipi was validly elected to replace Amachree.

    He said Amachree was “procedurally impeached, creating room for the election of the new Speaker, Rt Hon Evans Bipi.”

    Needam warned Amachree to “desist from twisting facts and misinforming the general public on who the authentic Speaker and other principal officers of the House are ,” and claimed that “ by making unguided submissions on the Police investigation on the matter, the impeached officers may be obstructing the due process of such investigation and those of the National Assembly.”

    The State PDP,he added, “further urges the former Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree and his cohorts to look at issues that would bring about the quick recovery of Hon Michael Chinda, who doctors are still struggling to save his life in an overseas hospital, rather than laying claim to positions which they have used to cause problems in the State.

    “As a party committed to justice and peace, we would continue to uphold the rule of law with strict adherence to the precepts of the constitutions of our party and the nation.”

  • Rivers’ lawmakers to Evans Bipi: You are an impostor

    Rivers’ lawmakers to Evans Bipi: You are an impostor

    The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi have warned a member of the House and “Speaker” of the five lawmakers, Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi to desist from impersonating the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree.

    It would be recalled that Hon. Bipi, a protégé of First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, was controversially elected Speaker by five of the 32-member House last week, who had earlier “impeached the Speaker.” His election later led to a bloody clash between the two sides.

    Bipi and his group insisted on the legality of his election maintaining that Amachree remains impeached.

    However, in a statement titled: “Our Position, “on Friday morning, the lawmakers explained their roles in the recent crisis and described Bipi as an impostor.

    The statement chronicled the events leading to the purported impeachment claim by five members of the House and urged the public to disregard the false claims.

    “The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to the plethora of stories and conjectures that have constituted the bulk analysis at the public domain on the crisis of Tuesday 9th of July, 2013… the House leadership received a communication from the Executive to amend the Rivers State Appropriation Law 2013. Sequel to this, the House reconvened on the 9th of July, 2013.”

    “Following the reconvening of the House on 9th of July, 2013, five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (Evans Bipi, Okechukwu Michael Chinda, Kelechi Nwogu, Victor Ihunwo and Martins Amaewhule) in alliance with the Rivers State Police Command and their thugs, carried out unprovoked attack and assault on members including the Speaker (Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree), the Leader of the House (Hon. Chidi Lloyd) and Hon. Wanjoku Chikere Azubuike.

    “Thereafter they made a spirited but unsuccessful attempt to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in obvious disregard of the amplifying procedures set out in section 92 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Order 12 and Order 28 of the standing orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

    “Since the botched impeachment attempt, one Hon. Evans Bipi has rather surreptitiously impersonated the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in Defiance and gross violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has gone ahead to make publications in the national media. We hereby call on the public to disregard the impostor (Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi) and his fabricated fallacies which are targeted at misinforming the general public,” the statement read.

    The lawmakers explained that the state Assembly acted within its powers when it suspended the Obio/Akpor Local Governmet Council which is believed to be one of the underlying issues fueling the crisis.

     

  • Governors’ convoy under attack in Rivers violence

    Governors’ convoy under attack in Rivers violence

    Protest as Amaechi hosts Aliyu, Nyako, Lamido, Kwankwaso 

    A bloodbath was averted yesterday at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s supporters and Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike’s clashed, hurling missiles at one another.

    Caught in the violence were four visiting governors – Alhaji Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano State), Alhaji Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger State), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa State) and Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State).

    The governors flew into Port Harcourt to see the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    Eye witnesses said that the mob attacked the convoy of the governor and his visitors with stones and clubs, smashing the windshield of some of the vehicles, including the coaster bus in which commissioners rode. They were shouting obscenities at the convoy. A four litre keg suspected to contain some acid was also found .

    Over 5,000 supporters of Wike, under the aegis of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, moved to the airport as early as 7 am, protesting against the governors’ visit.

    The minister, who intends to succeed Amaechi in 2015, is the grand patron of GDI.

    Wike’s loyalists were confronted by Amaechi’s supporters at the parking lot of the airport, with missiles flying and people scampering to safety.

    Information Commissioner Ibim Semenitari said: “There were jitters in the Presidency over the visit of governors of Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger to Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi in Port Harcourt today (yesterday).

    “Members of the Nyesom Wike’s campaign organisation, GDI, had mobilised hoodlums to disrupt the visit, chanting solidarity songs in favour of the Presidency and attempted to attack Governor Amaechi and his team.

    “Wike had boasted after the failed impeachment attempt at the Rivers State House of Assembly that he would set Rivers State ablaze and render it ungovernable. A four-litre keg, suspected to contain some acid, was found beside the mob.

    “Rivers State Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu denied knowledge of the mob’s presence. Although the police stated that the airport is a public place and everyone has a right to visit freely and unhindered.

    “This portends grave danger and has far-reaching implications for our fledgling democracy.”

    Some of the placards by Wike’s supporters read: “Northern governors should concentrate on Boko Haram”; “Amaechi not elected Rivers governor to be NGF Chairman”; “Nyako and co, leave our resources alone”; “Soyinka, face Southwest” and “Aliyu and others in Rivers State to cause confusion.”

    A prominent Nigerian, who witnessed the incident at the airport, but would not want his name in print, said the clash was uncalled for, stressing that it heightened tension in the area, leading to confusion. Passengers had to either hide or run for their lives.

    The Police Command, led by Johnson Oni, soldiers and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) prevented the breakdown of law and order.

    The Secretary-General of the GDI, Samuel Nwanosike, who is also the Rivers Publicity Secretary of the PDP, in a telephone interview, said it was a “peaceful” protest, with Wike’s supporters “singing and dancing,” to show that they were not happy with the governors’ visit.

    Nwanosike said: “Rivers people are not happy with Amaechi and the four visiting governors. We went to the airport for a peaceful protest, singing and dancing. Over 5,000 chiefs, women and youths from the 23 local government areas of the state participated in the protest. Nobody threw stones.

    “The four governors should leave Rivers State resources alone. We are tired of their presence. They should quickly return to the North and face Boko Haram suicide bombers.

    “Oni was at the airport while we were protesting and he did a good job as a professional police officer. He said everybody had the right to protest, but we should not block the road.”

    The four governors later met with their host (Amaechi) at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on how to ensure peace in Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria.

    Rising from their meeting with Amaechi, which lasted for more than three hours, the four northern governors issued a statement made available to reporters.

     

  • Rivers crisis shameful, say North’s elders

    Rivers crisis shameful, say North’s elders

    The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to halt the crisis in Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    They also called for the removal of Rivers Police chief Mbu Joseph Mbu.

    The spokesman of the group, Prof Ango Abdulahi, expressed concern over what he described as “the alarming desperation of politicians to manoeuvre themselves in vantage positions for the electoral contests of 2015”, saying it is a major threat to the elections and, ultimately, the democratic process.

    “The clumsy and embarrassing conduct and fallout of the election in the Governors’ Forum, the engineered crisis in the ruling party, the role of the spouse of the President in affairs of the state, are signs that Nigeria is descending into anarchy and lawlessness rarely seen in our history.

    “The hands of the Presidency are clearly visible in all these events that appear to draw inspiration from the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan to stay in power in 2015.The most recent developments in Rivers state represent a new low in the shameful conduct of political office holders at the highest levels and they should be condemned by all Nigerians.

    “It is a great pity that those who swore to defend our Constitution and to uphold the rule of law are the same people who use violence as a political too, and serially abuse the power entrusted to them. They have abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them in pursuit of more power and the unending persecution of imaginary enemies. They endanger our democracy and national security. They must be called to question and asked to stop now.”

    Abdulahi called on the President to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers state and stop using the police to settle his political disputes.

    The elders added: “the Nigeria police is not a political party and certainly not an arm of the Peoples Democratic Party. The governor and people of Rivers State, as indeed all citizens of Nigeria deserve the full protection of the law and of their rights to live in peace under state guaranteed security.”

     

  • Rivers crisis: Lawyers write National Assembly over lawsuit

    Rivers crisis: Lawyers write National Assembly over lawsuit

    Two Rivers State-based lawyers, Tamunoteim Asobari and John Kpakol, have written the National Assembly leadership to notify them of their lawsuit over the political crisis in the oil-rich state.

    They sued the lawmakers and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.

    The two are urging the court to declare that there are no facts indicating that the Rivers State House of Assembly is unable to carry out its legislative functions.

    The plaintiffs, therefore, want the court to nullify the National Assembly’s resolutions aimed at restoring order in the state.

    The lawyers sent the letters to the Senate President David Mark and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal yesterday.

    They reminded the lawmakers that with the suit now before a competent court of law, any action they take in a bid to enforce their resolutions on Rivers crisis would be sub judice.

    According to the plaintiffs, having being notified of the suit, the lawmakers must stay action on any plan to intervene in the crisis any manner.

    However, it could not be ascertained as at press time whether the Natioal Assembly leadership received the correspondence.

    In law, sub judice (Latin for ‘under judgment’) means that a particular case or matter is under trial or being considered by a judge or court.

    It is generally considered inappropriate to comment publicly or on cases sub judice, or to take action regarding a matter over which a suit has been filed, which can be an offence in itself, leading to contempt of court, for which a person can be jailed.

    The plaintiffs sued the Senate, Mark, Tambuwal, Abubakar and Chairman, Senate Committee on States and Local Government Senator Kabiru Gaya.

    Asobari said he is a native of Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, while Kpakol stated he hails from Gokan Local Government Area.

    They are seeking a declaration that by the provisions of Section 215 (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly cannot give directives to the IGP or the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State or any other police officer regarding maintenance of law and order.

    The plaintiffs said the lawmakers also have no constitutional power to direct Abubakar to re-deploy controversial Rivers Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu or any other officer for that matter.

    They sought a declaration that the resolutions passed by the Senate and the House directing the police chief to re-deploy Mbu usurps and undermines the powers of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Therefore, they prayed that the resolutions should be declared unconstitutional, and null and void.

    The lawyers are also urging the court to hold that the resolutions passed by the Senate mandating its committee on States and Local Government Areas, chaired by Gaya, to investigate “the sticky situation” between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Mbu and “the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly” is unconstitutional, null and void.

    They sought a declaration that by the provisions of Section 11(4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Assembly cannot assume the law-making functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly “when there are no facts that the said House is unable to carry out its functions.”

    The lawyers sought an order of injunction restraining the national lawmakers “from unlawfully encroaching on the functions of the President” and those of the IGP with regard to the re-deployment or reposting of police officers.

    They also prayed for an order of injunction restraining the Senate from concurring with the House of Representatives’ resolution to take over the lawmaking functions of the Rivers House of Assembly.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court to restrain the National Assembly from assuming the functions of the state Assembly, as well as prevent the Senate and House committees from probing the crisis.

  • Rivers crisis and political expediency

    SIR: The political atmosphere in Nigeria has always been dramatic and full of intrigues. It beats one’s imagination that a blessed nation like Nigeria can throw up some clowns who call themselves legislators and whose behaviour only but bring untold embarrassment to the image of Nigeria.

    The nation and the world got a rude shocker on Tuesday July 9, when the crisis in the Rivers State’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) precipitated a commotion at the House of Assembly chambers. The video clips of the fracas which we saw on TV and online were not only disturbing to an average mind, but showed how desperate some people could go in order to vent their anger. Members of the state House of were seen openly attacking each other with dangerous objects which left some of them injured in the process and later hospitalised.

    Five legislators opposed to Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi had purportedly impeached the Speaker Hon Otelemabala Amachree and therefore presented Hon Evans Bipi as new Speaker. For the impeachment of any elected official to be constitutional and valid, there must be a two-thirds majority vote of the members of such House. Specifically, by virtue of Section 92 Subsection (2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, a Speaker of a state House of Assembly can only be removed from office by a resolution of not less than two-third majority of the members of the House. In the case of the Rivers House, this mandatory constitutional provision was breached and therefore a valid impeachment cannot be said to have taken place.

    It is worrisome that many politicians in Nigeria still believe in and practise the culture of impunity. Why would a legislator who is supposed to be a shining example to the upcoming generation of youths be seen on national television exchanging blows with a fellow lawmaker? Are these people really law makers or law breakers? In saner climes, these clowns should have been put behind bars or recalled from office for such national embarrassment. Are there not better ways to resolve whatever impasse there are or grudges they have against each other?

    The role played by the police is not clear since despite their presence, the crisis persisted and it is uncertain if they came to douse the crisis or to add to an already aggravated situation. We are all aware of the political issues in Rivers state for some time now and even the Governor himself had raised an alarm on security issues and safety but what have the security agencies done to forestall any breakdown of law and order? The role played by the police on that day is not only questionable but leaves much to be desired and this should be investigated by the Senate and any police officer found culpable should be made to face the law. The members of the House who took part in such show of shame by assaulting their colleagues should likewise be investigated and properly sanctioned.

    The culture of impunity must stop in Nigeria and people who break the law must be made to face the law and be punished for their offences if found culpable. This is very vital if Nigeria must move forward. We cannot continue dancing round the same circle all the time without learning from our history. The only way to stop impunity is to punish offenders without minding whose ox is gored and it will be impossible to do this without the cooperation of everyone concerned.

    • Tayo Demola

    Lagos

     

  • First Lady sues for peace in Rivers State

    First Lady sues for peace in Rivers State

    Worried by the crisis in Rivers State, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan yesterday called on all actors in the crisis to sheath their swords in the interest of the innocent citizens in the state.

    In a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Ayo Osinlu, the First Lady noted that the poor including women and children always bear the consequences of such impasse.

    She also warned the political heavyweights in the state not to allow the crisis to be hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums.

    The statement reads: “This office wishes to call on all feuding parties in Rivers State to spare a thought for the social, political and economic costs of the crisis, and consider an urgent way to resolve all political differences.”

    “It is our position that the greater consequences of the impasse is, as usual, reserved for the poor, the weak and the vulnerable, especially women and children, who are usually innocent bystanders in all these.”

    “This derives naturally from the saying that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

    She went on: “On a larger scale, we subscribe to the fact that conflicts and violence are the most lethal threats to peace, which itself is the irreducible minimum condition for development.”

    “The situation must therefore not be allowed to degenerate to a level that can be hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums, thus exposing everyone to insecurity from which there may be no easy escape.”

    “We therefore call on elders of the state to position themselves appropriately in the circumstances, and continue to seek the highest good of Rivers state and its people, by stone-walling the activities of the few who would rather fan little embers into a consuming inferno.”

    “Recent experience whereby certain otherwise respected elders of the country, both from within and outside Rivers State, were canvassing views that seemed to intensify the heat in Rivers State, is certainly unfortunate.”

    “We also recall recent pictures of some youths on the streets of Port Harcourt, obviously in an angry mood, a worrisome suggestion that the crisis is already threatening to spill to the streets, a dimension we cannot afford to allow to escalate for obvious reasons.”

    “We must stress that the people of the state desire and look forward to an end to the hostilities, to pave way for higher economic activities and nobler political engagements that will guarantee an enhancement of their welfare.”

    “It is therefore incumbent on all people of goodwill to seek to restore peace, brotherliness and love in Rivers State, for the state to press forward in the direction of growth and progress.” She stated

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Rivers: Time to stop the slide

    Rivers: Time to stop the slide

    Not a few Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora were disturbed by the recent turn of events for the worse in the escalating political crisis in the Rivers State chapter of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Not only were they disturbed, they were equally surprised and disappointed at the orgy of violence that attended the legislative session of the House of Assembly last Tuesday and the show of shame put up a day later by the Police which barricaded the Government House in Port Harcourt for close to three hours, firing tear gas into the premises.

    And most Nigerians are now not just ashamed of what politicians are turning this democracy into under President Goodluck Jonathan’s watch, but are also afraid that the 4th republic is in peril if the Rivers crisis is allowed to fester and spread to other parts of the country. They fear the Egyptian scenario could play itself out here if care was not taken. They could be right.

    In Egypt as we all know, the military had just kicked out the elected government of President Mohammed Morsi when the country was sliding into seeming unending chaos, replacing it with an interim civilian administration. The chaos though, is continuing and the military (mis)adventure looks unlikely to restore peace, stability and sustainable democracy any time soon.

    This is the path the Rivers crisis seems to be taking Nigeria. Remember we travelled this route before twice with disastrous consequences. The political crisis in the western region in the first republic over disputed election got to a head when opposing lawmakers fought one another in the Parliament building at Agodi in Ibadan, using chairs and other movable furniture as weapons. The photographs of members of the regional parliament escaping through the window are there in history books to remind us of that period.

    The rest of Nigeria practically looked on as the Western Region literarily burnt as supporters of rival political  parties engaged in arson and killing in what was known locally as “Operation  Wetie”, that is, wetting the subject or object with fuel before setting in fire. They thought it was a Yoruba problem, but they were wrong as the failure of the federal government then to contain it drew the attention of five Majors in the Nigerian Army who staged the first military coup in the country, thus terminating that democratic experience.

    And our politicians certainly did not learn anything from that experience as the south west again burnt in the second republic when disputed election in Ondo state in 1983, led to similar arson and killing which together with other political mayhem and similar crises elsewhere attracted the intervention of the soldiers and our second attempt at democracy was halted on December 31st 1983.

    Those who could recall these two past experiences have been drawing the attention of the political class to their similarities with today’s crisis in Rivers State and the need to avoid that path, but it does appear they are talking to the deaf.

    The crisis that culminated in the free for all fight inside the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly last Tuesday has its roots in the plans by rival political camps within the ruling PDP in the state to control the administration and resources of the state after the tenure of Governor Rotimi Amaechi in 2015. While the Amaechi group is intent on him seeing out his second term successfully, it also aims to produce his successor and therefore sustain his legacy of good work, performance and delivery of ‘dividend of democracy’ to the people.

    The other camp led by a former Amaechi ally and now a member of the federal cabinet Nyesom Wike, wants to be in charge and seems not willing to wait till 2015; it wants the governorship now and appears ready to do anything and everything that could bring about this. And it has found a willing ally in the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, an indigene of Rivers, who not only wants to build her own political followership in the state but also produce the next governor preferably from her Okrika ethnic group. Together they have sold the idea to Jonathan who has lent the federal might to their project with the selfish belief that that is the only way to guarantee him the two million or so votes from Rivers state in the 2015 presidential election.

    Both of them are using the presidential support differently. Wike, with ears of the president, is manipulating the party structure and with the help of a contentious court order has been able, for now, to wrestle the control of the PDP in the state from the Amaechi group, the intention being to either use the party to compel its members in the Assembly to impeach the governor and provide a window for the group to sneak into the Government House or deny Amaechi the party ticket in case a court invalidates his election and orders a rerun. They attempted to push through the impeachment and the outcome was the mayhem witnessed last week at the Assembly.

    The First Lady on her part has been using the security agencies especially the police to intimidate the state government to either run the governor out of office now or weaken him so much as to be unable to produce or influence his successor in 2015.

    The governor is expectedly not keeping quiet. In the face of the federal onslaught both against his government, his supporters and even the larger society in Rivers state, Amaechi has been fighting on all fronts to resist the other group and still be able provide leadership to his people and continue to deliver on his promise of good governance. This must be a tall order because the federal might arrayed against him is indeed awesome and powerful.

    To the chagrin of his opponents, the majority of the people of Rivers are with him, so also are most of his colleagues in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where he remains the chairman, the presidency’s attempt to polarize the forum notwithstanding.

    But the effect of the ‘war’ is beginning to tell on the people. Security situation in the state is getting worse, no thanks to the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu who seems to be more interested in playing along with the First Lady rather than working with the state governor. Militants, cultists and their likes that were driven out of town five, six years ago are back on the prowl, working for the anti Amaechi forces and terrorizing the people. Kidnapping we are told is on the increase, so are other crimes, but CP Mbu is unperturbed as long as ‘Madam at the top’ and the Minister are happy. He seems to be answerable to no one but the First Lady, not even the Inspector General of Police.

    In all of this the president is behaving as if all is well or Amaechi must be brought down to his knees and thought a lesson even if Rivers will burn. This is unfortunate. If Jonathan continues to fold his arms and allow events in Rivers to degenerate further to the point where things would begin to fall apart the blame would be on his head and nobody would cry for him. If truly he is the leader of his party, then he should be able to call all the warring groups in PDP in the state, including his wife to order in the interest of not just this democracy but also the country. He knows who and what is causing the crisis in Rivers state, he also knows the solution. He should stop playing politics with us. It is time to act as leader of the nation that his position has conferred on him He should resist the temptation to press the self destruct button. Nigeria can’t afford to travel that road again. NO.

    While this is not an attempt to justify Governor Amaechi’s actions or exonerate him from whatever blames he deserves, President Jonathan bears the greater responsibility to ensure the survival of this democracy and the country as a united entity.

     

  • When will peace return to Rivers?

    When will peace return to Rivers?

    Rivers State has become a theatre of war, ahead of the 2015 general elections. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN writes on the implication of the protracted feud between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi for security in the state.

     

    The political crisis rocking the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new twist last week, with the unsuccessful attempt by five out of 32 members of the House of Assembly to unseat the Speaker and replace him with another member. There was commotion in and outside the chambers of the House between the pro and anti-Governor Rotimi Amaechi law makers. Hoodlums allegedly sponsored by the supporters of the five legislators unleashed terror on members loyal to the governor. The Speaker and some of his colleagues were critically injured in the fracas.

     

    Partisan role of the police

     

    The Assembly had on previous occasions tried to hold its normal sittings and transact parliamentary business. But it was unable to do so as a result of the presence of hoodlums in the precincts of the House and the failure of the Police to provide security for the majority members loyal to the governor.

    Curiously, the Rivers State Police Command, which had pledged to provide security for the sitting on Tuesday, July 9, watched the violence unleashed on the members without any intervention. But the five lawmakers gained entrance into the Assembly Chambers and held a “session,” amid tight security provided by the police.

    A lawyer, Chief Emeka Ngige, said the crisis in Rivers State is a challenge to the rule of law. He condemned a situation where the State Commissioner of Police is openly supporting the renegades in their nefarious activities.

    Ngige, who spoke with our correspondent, noted that the Police Service Commission (PSC), as presently constituted, is a toothless bulldog adding that, otherwise, the Commissioner should have been brought to book.

    “A PSC under Parry Osayande would not tolerate the acts of indiscipline of the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State. It should be mentioned that this Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu, was an Assistat Commissioner (Admin) during the Anambra State political crisis of 2003-2004. So, it can be seen that he was thoroughly schooled to unleash what is going on in Rivers State today.

    Civil Rights activist Mallam Shehu Sani also condemned the partisan role of the police in the festering political crisis in Rivers state. He told The Nation in an interviewthat the police had clearly shown that it cannot be trusted with the protection of life and property of the pro-Amaechi group.

    Sani described a situation where the Commissioner of Police is seen to have taken sides, as unfortunate.

    He said: “The police have taken side with the anti-Amaechi forces. This portends a danger to political and security order in this country. If Governor Amaechi collapses, our democracy is in imminent danger.

    “The Federal Government is being pulled into a demeaning war of attrition in Rivers and which will produce no good to either President Goodluck Jonathan or his government. Rotimi Amaechi has today been turned into a voice of dissent and resistance against fascism and dictatorship.”

    A Port Harcourt based social critic, Mr Bernard Briggs, indicted the police for what he described as show of shame in handling the political crisis Briggs said: “If the police have played the role of an unbiased security outfit, the crisis would not have gone to this extent. But the State Police Command under Mbu Joseph Mbu has made us to realise that the police can provide security for only those who are in the good book of the powerful in Abuja. How do you explain a situation where the Commissioner of Police is at loggerhead and not ready to take directive from the governor recognised by the constitution as the chief security officer of the state?

    “At a stage Mbu withdrew the governor’s police security outfit thus exposing him to danger. I doubt if the Police Commissioner had restored the Speaker’s police security withdrawn at the peak of this crisis . Mbu should know that those in power today will not be there forever. He, as a civil servant, should not owe allegiance to politicians but, should discharge his duties accordingly so that, after leaving the service, he will have a piece of mind.

    On the promise by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the role of the police in the fracas at the Rivers State House of Assembly, the social critic said it is a distraction. What other evidence does the IG needed to establish that his men in Rivers have compromised than what happened on Tuesday when the police gave cover to five legislators to commit illegality and turned their eyes against the terror being unleashed to the 27 lawmakers outside the Chambers of the House of Assembly, he asked.

    “Why is it now that the IG is aware that his men in Rivers have fallen short of expectation? Where was he all this while when Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the elders of Rivers State and the lawmakers called for the redeployment of Mbu? What he said recently was that he has not received a formal complaint. But who wrote him now before sending a team to Rivers State? To me, the action of the IG is face saving; it is belated. Nigerians are not fools. We know the IG is acting a script written by Aso rock”.

    Social critic and political activist Professor Tam David-West indicted the police for poor handling of the crisis in the Assembly. David-West, who warned that, if the Rivers crisisi is not handled with caution, especially by the police that has taken side with Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, it will turn into a national crisis, the end result of which no one can predict. .

    David-West urged the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order and ensure they discharge their functions accordingly. I was surprised that the police failed to disperse the hoodlums hired by Wike to disrupt the lawmakers from sitting. Surprisingly, the five legislators gained entrance into the chambers and attempted to conduct a kangaroo meeting before they were dislodged by Amaechi and his security men. I don’t know what signals we are sending to the international community. Are we not making ourselves a laughing stock? What kind of democracy are we practising in this country, he queried.

     

    Jonathan, Patience and

    Wike factor

     

    Against the backdrop of President Jonathan’s denial of involvement in the crisis, David-West said Nigerians should not believe him. He said President Jonathan, his wife and Wike should be held responsible for the crisis.

    According to him “the man purportedly appointed Speaker by the five legislators, Evans Bapakaye Bipi, is a relation of Jonathan’s wife. Patient and Bipi are from Okirika in Rivers State. When Bipi wedded recently, Patient spent more than a week for the event. She nearly shut down Port Harcourt. Bipi is using his relationship with Patient to cause problems in Rivers State.

    “Okirika factor is being brought into the crisis. Bipi is an Okrika man and a relation to Patient, also an Okirika woman, but married to an Ijaw man from Bayelsa State.

    “The Speaker, Chidi Lloyd, is Kalabari. The Kalabari will not allow an Okirika man to take over the office of the Speaker through the back door as been planned by Jonathan, his wife and Wike. It is a dangerous dimension that can set River State on fire”.

     

    Culture of impunity

     

    Ngige said that what we are witnessing today in Rivers State is culture of impunity. He said the remote cause is the culture of impunity, which General Olusegun Obasanjo sowed in this country during his infamous eight years rule. He went further: “The monumental rigging of national elections by the PDP-led government in 2003 and 2007 produced charlatans and renegades as our representatives at different tiers of government. Illegality, they say, begets illegality. These renegades are the ones determining the fate of other Nigerians at different level of government today.

    “The impunity, which we are witnessing in Rivers State today, is not a new phenomenon in our polity. It has happened before in Oyo State where Adedibu held Governor Ladoja to ransom, in Anambra where the Ubas organised the worst mayhem ever witnessed in the history of the state, with properties worth billions of naira destroyed and in Plateau State where Governor Dariye was held to ransom by forces loyal to the sitting President. The examples are endless. None of the people involved in these crises were brought to book and so, the impunity continues till date,” he added.

    Sani said the President cannot claim innocence in this matter. The Federal Government, according to him, is culpable in the unfolding events. It shows how intolerance and desperate the President is in his attempt to crush any dissenting voice and to extinguish any glimmer of light of hope in our democratic process, he said.

    “Jonathan is fighting a war that will ridicule him and destroy his legacies. It was the same kind of war that Obasanjo fought with Atiku that is being re-enacted between Jonathan and Amaechi, This kind of political battle is hatched, nourished and sustained by political cronies who are benefitting from the on-going confrontation.

    “These so-called five members do not represent the interest of the people and the Rivers State. They are hired guns working against the interest of their people and to appease an anonymous force behind their plot. We have seen this during the Obasanjo administration. It failed. This one too will fail,” Sani stressed.

     

    Politics of 2015

     

    It has been observed that the crisis in Rivers is rooted in the political ambition of President Jonathan to re-contest, which he has not made public. The presidency is suspecting Governor Amaechi of having a vice presidential ambition, which the President considered a threat to his political career. Amaechi has denied this on several occasions.

    Ngige said: “For the immediate cause of crisis in Rivers, we all know it has to do with politics of 2015. The President of Nigeria wants to run again in 2015 and perceives that Governor Amaechi is nursing a vice presidential ambition for the same election. He therefore, considers Amaechi as a threat to his re-election.

    “I now ask: Is that the reason why Amaechi should be crucified or Rivers State turned into a theatre of war? Why are our politicians so intolerant of opposing views? Are we practising democracy or monarchy where the views of the King are unchallengeable?”

    Jonathan’s men have succeeded in elevating Amaechi to national prominence and importance, Sani. He said what the people of the Southsouth need to understand is that they still need the support of other Nigerians, even after Jonathan’s Presidency. “By what is happening in the South-South is simply drawing the battle line,” he added.

    Sanni urged Nigerians to stand on the side of justice and truth. This kind of war will only end up with Jonathan staining himself whichever way is the outcome of the battle, he added.

    On the possibility of the Presidency declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, he said: “Declaration of a state of emergency will be seen from the reality of its truth and the truth is not other than an attempt to bring down Amaechi and send him to jail. A state of emergency in Rivers State is very much unnecessary because the violence and crisis there are synthetic.”

    Ngige admonished Jonathan to thread softly. He said: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should call his party men to order. He should have a rethink on the crisis. Withdrawing the soldiers guarding the Governor as well as removing the armoured tanks stationed in front of the Government House could not have been done without the permission of the Presidency. It smacks of pettiness and desperation for the presidency to be giving support to the renegades causing mayhem in Rivers state.

    “The President should be statesman in this crisis and learn from the mistakes of General Obasanjo who enjoyed destabilising state governments that were not in his good books. At the end of Obasanjo’s tenure, what happened to PDP in Southwest? Instability and turmoil took over including his household. That’s a lesson for all of us that when you sow the wind you reap the whirlwind. Our President should be a statesman and allow Governor Amaechi to be. Only God can determine who will be our President in May 29, 2015. Nobody should play God. The President and his wife should not play God.

     

  • Rivers: The return of bad old days

    SIR: The unfolding brigandage in Rivers State does not in any way come as a surprise to us, especially to some of us who have are familiar with the meddlesomness of the powers that be in the embattled state. As it was under the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, so it is under the watchful eyes of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    When the five gangsters (for that is truly what they are) acting under the instructions of the powers-that-be and under the adequate security cover by the highly compromised Nigeria Police Force, last week, invaded the River State House of Assembly and tried to illegally remove the Speaker of the House, Otelemaba Amachree, in a “democratic coup”, the 2006 Oyo and Anambra states fiascos became readily a reference point. It became evident that our politicians are ready to rock the boat for their selfish interests. It marvels the world how we take a step forward and 10 steps backward.

    Sadly, we have learnt nothing from the previous farce. Recall that in similar gestapo manner, 18 out of the 32 members of Oyo State House of Assembly impeached the then governor Rashidi Ladoja in a flagrant violation of the provisions of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution. Few months later, renegades in Anambra laid siege in the state. Ten out of the 30 members purportedly impeached Governor Peter Obi. It took the swift and courageous efforts of the Judiciary to restore sanity to the two states.

    Interestingly, the above absurdities share a remarkable similarities with the current Rivers imbroglio. Like in Oyo and Anambra states, the five lawmakers of the Rivers Assembly are trying to rubbish the fundamental principle of democracy anchored on the mantra of quorum. The five do not only want to have their say, they equally want to have their way at the detrimental of the 27 members. Their act was no less an attempt to criminally ride to power through the back door. Taking a cue from his benefactor, who gave a tacit support to the illegalities in the Oyo and Anambra brouhaha, the President has also given an overt backing to the ongoing madness in the state, though the duo of Abati and Okupe have (in futility) tried to absolve him.

    Those asking for the redeployment of the partisan Commissioner of Police from the state missed the point. For all we know, Joseph Mbu is being used by his paymasters to hatch the plan. The police boss, who has lost every sense of professionalism in his duty, is only but a useful tool for those who are hell bent in enthroning anarchy in our society. His shameful role in the unfortunate crisis is not only a clear violation of the recently launched Code of Conduct for Nigeria Police, it is a demonstration of how a public officer could turn an errand boy in a bid to earn a living in this part of the planet.

     

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Lagos.