But the governor said it was practically
impossible in today’s Rivers State to be removed by five members of a
32-member legislature.
Rivers Commissioner of Information, Mrs.
Ibim Semenitari, in a statement on behalf of Amaechi in Port Harcourt,
said, “We are aware that people are imagining that it will be possible
to attempt a (ex-Plateau State Governor Joshua) Dariye treatment in
Rivers State where they will take just five members of the Rivers State
House of Assembly out of 32 members and attempt an impeachment of the
Governor of Rivers State.
“But this is Rivers State; this is not
Plateau State and Nigerians are a lot more aware now than they were at
that time. This democracy must stand and the people of Rivers State will
defend every vote that they have cast for Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
“So, there is no way it is going to
happen that a very tiny, insignificant minority in the Rivers State
House of Assembly will be able to oust Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
“I know that the governor is in full
control of the state. I know that there are no matters for concern in
Rivers State. I am aware that a couple of few hoodlums and
rabble-rousers are trying to cause disaffection in the state and trying
to pretend that there is chaos in Rivers State.”
The Speaker of the state House of
Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree, had last Thursday raised the alarm that
the PDP executive in the state, led by Paul Obuah, were hatching a plot
to cause confusion in the state by enlisting the five legislators to
impeach the governor under the authority of a “fake mace” to be brought
from outside the state.
The Obuah-led exco and the governor had
been at each other’s throat with the PDP last Monday suspending 27 state
legislators believed to be loyal to Amaechi from the party. It also
queried the governor over the controversy surrounding the registration
of an aircraft owned by the state government.
The court has however stopped the suspension while Amaechi has described the PDP query as “sad and laughable.”
Amachree on Monday postponed resumption
of the House. The members were expected to resume on Monday from their
recess but only the five legislators not affected by the annulled
suspension appeared in the chamber.
The Speaker, in a statement, said he had
to postpone the House sitting because of negative security report
around the state House of Assembly.
He said, “Declare a state of emergency
in Borno, Yobe and Kano, where Boko Haram and their collaborators are
killing innocent men, women and children on a daily basis.
“We state again that Rivers is peaceful
and that the symbol of democracy in the state, the Rivers House of
Assembly, is peaceful and very orderly. Let the law enforcement agencies
cooperate with us.”
Indeed, the atmosphere in the state was
charged on Monday even as placard-carrying youths in their hundreds
stormed the state House of Assembly in protest and demanded the
impeachment of both Amaechi and Amachree.
Leader of the protesting youths, Mr.
John Ogunda, said members of the House failed to follow due process in
the suspension of Obio/Akpor council chairman, Timothy Nsirim.
The now-annulled suspension earlier slammed on the 27 state lawmakers by the PDP had been anchored on their removal of Nsirim.
Ogunda explained that the people of
Obio/Akpor did not need a caretaker committee in the area, insisting
that the governor and the Speaker must reinstate Nsirim.
“We do not need a caretaker committee
chairman in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Nsirim did nothing wrong
before he was suspended. We want him recalled,” Ogunda said.
PUNCH
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