LAGOS JULY 10TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The House of Representatives issued a swift resolution, Wednesday, taking over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly a day after violence erupted at the state chamber leaving four lawmakers injured.
The House invoked its constitutional powers- Section 11, sub-section 4 of the Nigerian constitution- to act in lieu of a crisis-ridden state assembly; and ordered the Inspector General of police, Mohammed Abubakar, to immediately redeploy the state police commissioner, Joseph Mbu, accused of refusing to act to curb Tuesday’s violence.
A similar effort by an apparent majority of Senators to have Mr. Mbu immediately punished, was rebuffed by Senate president, David Mark, at a stormy deliberation that involved Senators undertaking a rare vote to reach a decision on the police chief.
Mr. Mbu has been accused by the embattled Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, of working for the presidency to subvert authorities in the state as part of a long-drawn political feud between Mr. Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan.
Violence erupted at the state chamber on Tuesday as lawmakers resumed from a forced break over a previous crisis that for months pitched 27 members, including the speaker, supporting Mr. Amaechi, against five others, with links to President Jonathan.
A dramatic move by the minority group to sack the Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree, and replace him with one of their own, Evans Bipi, triggered a free-for-all brawl.
As the violence degenerated with members freely targeting each other, police personnel and armed soldiers who had arrived at the chamber early enough, stood watching, witnesses and state officials said. Mr. Mbu, the police commissioner, denied the allegations on Tuesday and claimed he responded appropriately by deploying his officers.
But videos online have shown minimal police action to stem the violence.
Another video also shows a member of the House smash a broken mace on another lawmaker, and subsequently chasing him around the chamber before a policeman cornered the assaulted lawmaker and also attacked him.
The member shown attacking another man in the video has been identified as the Majority Leader of the House, Chidi Lloyd, a supporter of the governor.
The impeachment push itself is widely interpreted as aimed at installing a leadership of the state assembly that will immediately move against Mr. Amaechi. Mr. Bipi confirmed that concern on Tuesday, vowing to impeach the governor if he fails to “behave”-that is if he becomes the Speaker.
“I have no intention to remove the governor of Rivers State. But if the need to remove him arose , I would do that. Now, I am the Speaker of the Assembly because I was duly elected,” Mr. Bipi was quoted as saying Tuesday.
Denials and denials
Mr. Jonathan and his aides have repeatedly sought to distance the presidency from the crisis in the state, denying instigating violence or even feuding with Mr. Amaechi.
If those denials ever made any mark to dispel that impression, critics have cited the details of events between last week and Tuesday as evidences indicative of the president’s imprint in the uproar.
The man at the centre of the impeachment attempt-the supposed elected speaker, Evans Bipi-is said to be a relative of the First Lady, Patience. Mrs. Jonathan personally witnessed Mr. Bipi’s wedding just last week.
The president himself, who is currently on a state in China, met last week with the faction of the state People’s Democratic Party opposed to Mr. Amaechi. Also, despite the scale of the chaos, by Wednesday the presidency had yet to issue a position on the matter.
Federal lawmakers shelved ongoing constitution review debates on Wednesday to respond to the crisis.
The Senate attempted first to move against the controversial police commissioner and condemned the crisis in the state and merely urged the police IG, Mr. Abubakar, to “take immediate steps to address the broken relationship” between Mr. Amaechi and Mbu ahead of full investigation, a resolution many lawmakers said was too lenient.
Majority of Senators called for stiffer resolution, to either compel the redeployment or the suspension of the police boss. The controversy tipped the senate towards its own round of chaos that lasted more than 30 minutes, culminating in a rare vote to determine each member’s leaning.
Despite an overwhelming number backing a tougher action, Mr. Mark announced a result claiming those opposed won 50 to 47. The result stirred another round of controversy, with some senators accusing him of rigging the poll.
Offering blood
Mr. Mark said the Senate’s decision was to allow for investigation, but made it clear the decisiveness of the upper chamber to “defend the constitution.”
“What is happening in Rivers state is an embarrassment that should be condemned by all. Let it be known however, that this senate will do everything possible to defend the constitution even if it means sacrificing our blood.”
The House of Representatives said it had to act swiftly to curb a further degeneration of violence in the state amid reports of continued shootings around the Rivers state government house on Wednesday.
But a senate concurrence will be needed for the House to fully assume the functions of the Rivers assembly.
Despite the Senate’s restraint, House Spokesperson, Zakari Mohammed, said the House was confident the Senate will toe the same path.
“We have an understanding with the Senate and we are sure they will be as patriotic as we are on this issue,” he said. “If the Senate would suspend its constitution amendment debate to deal with this matter, that shows.”
Source: Premium Times