The resolution was passed after a passionate debate on the disruption of the affairs of the state assembly.
The lawmakers also asked that Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar should immediately redeploy River State Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu for his alleged dereliction of duty and inability to continue to provide unbiased security for democratic structures in the state.
Relevant rules of the House were suspended to allow for the adoption of the votes and proceedings for onwards transmission of the resolutions to the Senate for concurrence.
The senate concurrence is needed for the resolution to be lawful.
The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of the amended resolution of a motion brought by the Chairman of House Committee on Rules and Business Albert Sam- Tsokwa.
While arguing the motion titled: “ Threat to democracy and inability of the Rivers State House to sit and transact legislative business”, Tsokwa said:
“On July 9, 2013, it was widely reported that hoodlums and thugs aided by five out of 32 Honourable members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State invaded the House of Assembly of Rivers State and beat up other Honourable members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State, with one of the five members of the House seizing a gun from a policeman and threatening other members of the House.
“The House of Assembly of Rivers State had on previous occasions tried to hold its normal sittings and transact parliamentary business but was unable to do so as a result of the presence of hoodlums in the precincts of the House and the inability of the Police to provide the legitimate authorities of the House with Security.”
The lawmaker expressed worry that the Rivers State Police Command which had pledged to provide security for the sitting of the House “watched the violence unleashed on members of the House of Assembly without any form of intervention.”
According to Sam- Tsokwa, a situation where the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State is alleged to have taken sides, and five out of a thirty-two members procured thugs and hoodlums to disrupt the sitting of the House and prevented the House of Assembly from performing its constitutional functions, is worrisome.
He expressed concern that five out of the thirty-two members purportedly attempted unsuccessfully to remove the Speaker and leadership of House of Assembly adding that if the situation prevailing in the Assembly of Rivers State is allowed to continue, “it will lead to a serious threat to our democracy which Nigerians fought hard to earn.”
Sam-Tsokwa urged said the National Assembly has a duty to invoke its authority under Section 11(4) of the Constitution adding that given the laid out scenario, the House of Assembly of Rivers State may be unable to perform its Constitutional functions.
His presentation elicited passionate debates from 18 members who spoke for and two who spoke against.
Bimbo Daramola (ACN Ekiti) said “The commissioner of Police in Rivers is fueling it. The Inspector- General of Police should take the guy out of the place.”
Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila ( ACN Lagos) said the five errant lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly should be charged with treason.
He said: “The country spoke with one voice a few days ago against what happened in Egypt. Would the world not now say, physician, heal thyself? Section 1 subsection 2 of the Constitution describes exactly what has happened in Rivers. In that section lies the offence of treason. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it is a duck. What happened in Rivers is a democratic coup and we should treat it as such.”
He urged that Section 215 (4 ) of the Constitution be amended to give the governor the power to exclusively direct the Commissioner of Police in such circumstances.
Garba Datti, Deputy Minority Whip (CPC Kaduna), said the crisis in the state is planned and that the Police Commissioner “is working under instruction.” He added that President Goodluck Jonathan “knows what is happening in the state.”
Yakubu Dogara (PDP Bauchi) described the event in Rivers State as a “grave situation,” adding that it is an attempt at “brinksmanship.”
He added: “This is an attempt by the authority to make Rivers State ungovernable in order to impose a state of emergency. The House should stand against this new threat to democracy. As members who subscribed to an oath to defend the constitution we must take a stance on it. We should invoke the constitutional mechanism in Section 11 (4) to ensure that the they people of Rivers are constitutionally protected.”
Others who supported the motion include Nmena Elendu- Ukeje, Abike Dabiri- Erewa, Eziuche Ubani, Oluchi Ibeji, Aminu Suleiman, Simon Erabo, Robinson Uwak, Ogbuefi Ozomgachi, Ali Madaki, Ali Ahmed, Peter Edeh, and Idris Legbo Kutigi.
However, Ken Chikere ( Rivers PDP) and Kingsley Chinda (Rivers PDP) expressed contrary opinions saying it is wrong to take over the Assembly.
Ken Chikere said: “What is happening in Rivers is unfortunate. Even when you say an arm of government has taken sides, we must look at it from a dispassionate perspective.”
Two amendment by Emmanuel Jime ( PDP Benue) carried the day. The resolutions were that the House should resolve that the Inspector General of Police redeploy the Rivers State Commissioner immediately for dereliction of duty and that the National Assembly, pursuant to the provisions of section 11(4) of the Constitution declare that the Rivers Assembly is unable to perform its function and the National Assembly takes over its function.
The resolution was overwhelmingly supported when the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over plenary asked for a voice vote.
Source: the nation
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