The police, on Thursday, manned the gates of the Rivers State House of Assembly, resisting an attempt by the 27 lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike from gaining entry.
It was learnt that the pro-Wike lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, were at the Assembly to hold a valedictory session in honour of their late colleague, Dinebari Loloox, who represented Khana State Constituency 2.
But the bus conveying the lawmakers, all dressed in black, was stopped by policemen at the gates, who said they had an order not to allow anyone in.
Some of the lawmakers were seen discussing with the policemen who remained adamant and turned them back.
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Speaking to our correspondent, a police officer, who did not give his name, said, “What we are doing is to ensure there are no security breaches.
“This morning, we received intelligence that some group of persons came to the Assembly. We don’t know their mission. You know these are distinguished lawmakers, we must ensure their safety. “
It was learnt that the policemen were later persuaded and allowed the lawmakers to enter and hold the valedictory session.
Though the remains of their departed lawmaker were not brought into the Assembly, the session was attended by his family, a member of the House of Representatives, Dumnamene Dekor, and some former state lawmakers.
The House thereafter adjourned till December 18, 2023.
The PUNCH reports that the Assembly had fallen into a crisis since October 29 when the complex was bombed ahead of a planned move by the pro-Wike lawmakers to impeach Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
The complex had been under lock until Wednesday when the pro-Wike lawmakers accessed the place and held plenary.
A day before, The PUNCH reports that cleaners were seen cleaning up and preparing the Assembly for the Wednesday plenary.
At the plenary, the lawmakers elected a former Chief Whip, Major Jack, as the new Majority Leader of the Assembly, to replace Edison Ehie, a pro-Fubara lawmaker, who had emerged as the factional Speaker of the House.
The pro-Wike lawmakers also pushed to make Fubara release the Assembly funds he had allegedly withheld.
They read for a second time the Rivers State House of Assembly Fund Management Bill also known as Financial Authority.
Meanwhile, some constituents from the four local government areas of Ogoni land said they had commenced a process to recall the four lawmakers representing the areas in the state Assembly.
They named the four lawmakers as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Dumle Maol; Barile Nwakor, representing Khana Constituency 1; Aforji Igwe, representing Eleme; Bernard Ngba, representing Tai Constituency.
The Convener of Ogoni Development Drive, Solomon Lenu, said this while speaking to newsmen at the official opening of the recall register in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Lenu said, “The errant lawmakers left the core responsibility for which they were elected to go on a political jamboree with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“We have equally obtained the comprehensive voters’ register of all voters in the four LGAs and constituencies.
“We have also created an electronic capture form to make the petition process easier for students at various campuses.”
The ODD convener stated that the commencement of the recall process began after the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to the four lawmakers from Ogoni to apologise to Fubara and the Ogoni people who voted for them.
“We will follow the process of their recall to its logical conclusion no matter how long the process may take,” he said.
Meanwhile, a group, Vanguard for Good Governance and Transparency, has commended the state police command for being neutral in the Assembly crisis.
The president of the group, Desmond Otto, in a statement, called on the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to continue to show professionalism in the discharge of his duties.
“The report this morning that some members of the state House of Assembly were not allowed entry into the complex by the police is a welcome development.
“It shows that the police are fully aware of the two court orders restraining the lawmakers from sitting and maintaining the status quo before the determination of the suit before it.
“The fact is that the political imbroglio in the state deserves to be handled with maturity and in ta Ndem with the law.”
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