River Speaker: "The Police Watched While Hoodlums Attacked My Fellow Members

Naija news

10.07.2013, 13:57  Local

Soon after the havoc in the Rivers State House of Assembly seemingly calmed down, Speaker of the Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree, gave an interview to the awaitning journalists, describing police actions as "less than professional".

The Speaker claimed the leadership of the House has remained intact, despite Evans Bipi's words that he is the "authentic" speaker -- calling Bipi's statement a pure fallacy and a lie. "I am the Speaker of Rivers State House of assembly and all the other officers and the clerk are here with me," Amachree said.

Commenting on the future of the lawmakers responsible for his impeachment, Amachree described the situation with the saying "When we get to the bridge, we will know how to cross it." He stressed, however, that every member is subject to certain rules and regulations in their conduct, adding that the members and leaders of the House would hold a meeting and produce a decision.

Amachree expressed his surprise while addressing the speculations that the lawmakers who attempted to impeach him also have plans for the Governor's impeachment. According to his words, there was "no attempt as far as we are concerned to impeach me or anybody."

"We are even shocked to hear that in the news. It is not true," the Speaker further added. "Look at us; can five members sit to impeach the speaker?

"We are about 27 members here. We don't know what their aims were but today, in fact, we did not know there would be chaos in the House. So, we went to the House as usual and we were exchanging pleasantries before Evans Bipi attacked me and the leader of the House. Then Hon. Chinda joined him. But we quickly arrested the situation and started our deliberation."

Likewise, the Speaker disproved the allegations that Governor Amaechi came to the House and attacked its members. Amachree explained that the Governor was never in Assembly, but it was the deputy Governor who presented some minor amendments to the 2013 budget. He further added that "it is not compulsory that every member must be present in our sitting everyday, but some obtained permission like the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry who is in Paris, France for a conference. Three others that did not attend sitting today, but they also obtained permission. There was a kind chaos before we sat today."

Describing the role of the police in the recent events, a displeased Amachree said he was "so surprised and shocked," as he had the previous day "officially directed the clerk of the House to the Commissioner of Police for security because of what happened on the 6th of May when some hoodlums invaded the Assembly. We didn't want a repeat of that, so I directed the Clerk to write to the CP and also the Brigade Commander, but, to my greatest surprise, I did not see one single army there [Assembly]."

And the police were "acting funny", the Speaker narrated, as one of his colleagues was even assaulted by the police. Meanwhile, the computers in the chambers were all destroyed by the five honourable members (lawmakers).

"In that hallowed chamber, honourable members can do anything there. It happens in every parliament. What we are concerned about is for a member to bring in hoodlums to attack his fellow members, but as colleagues we can fight in the chamber," the Speaker said. "But outside the chamber, it is unfortunate that the police will also be there and watching hoodlums attacking members. As a House, we would look into it, but we don't have right over the Police. What we will do is that we will write to the National Assembly."

"We will do a presentation or we will send a formal complaint to the NASS. The House will continue to seat, but for now we have adjourned sine die, but we can reconvene anytime. For the House to impeach the speaker, two third of members must agree. Now, count how many members that are with me here. We are 23 members here, you can count us. No mace was brought into the House."