LAGOS JULY 9TH (URHOBOTODAY) The Rivers State House of Assembly was this afternoon (local time) thrown into chaos as a few anti-Governor Rotimi Amaechi legislators and militants, who are alleged supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan, led by Hon. Evans Bibi, smuggled a mace into the Assembly, desperately hoping to seat and impeach the current Speaker of the House, who is a staunch supporter of Amaechi, and eventually begin the impeachment of the Governor.
The desperate alleged pro-Jonathan train were however resisted by pro-Amaechi legislators and supporters present.
Two lawmakers loyal to Mr. Amachree told newsmen that the speaker sensed there was trouble in the air after he sent letters summoning members to today’s session. “The speaker now sent a message to the state commissioner of police and the brigade commander and leader of the Joint Task Force to ask for security to enable the house [to] sit,” said one of the lawmakers.
The other legislative source added that, unknown to the speaker, five renegade members of the assembly allegedly loyal to President Jonathan had met with the commissioner of police overnight and arranged to come prepared to impeach the speaker. “When we arrived at the state assembly today, we were surprised to see a huge number of military men and well armed policemen,” said the source.
Our source learnt that trouble soon started as a member of the house, Evans Bapakaye Bipi, representing Ogu/Bolo constituency arrived with thugs, pounced on the house leaders, Michael Chinda and Chidi Lloyd, while the police and the military kept their distance.
Our sources said when Governor Amaechi heard of the fracas and the refusal of the police and members of the JTF to intervene, he rushed to the house with his aides and armed escorts and succeeded in rescuing members of the house loyal to him.
As the governor and the majority of the legislators were leaving the site of the mayhem, they discovered that five renegade members of the house allegedly empowered by President Jonathan had seized the mace. They then ran back to retrieve the mace from the minority group, our sources said.
During the chaos, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lyod, a staunch supporter of Amaechi, was assaulted physically by the opposing group. He is presently in a local hospital receiving treatment.
During the chaos, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lyod, a staunch supporter of Amaechi, was assaulted physically by the opposing group. He is presently in a local hospital receiving treatment.