Every politically conscious Nigerian on the
various social network platforms is expressing their disbelief/ disappointment.
It is barely 12noon GMT. Videos from the Rivers State House of Assembly have
surfaced online and the most popular clip contains a man in a crisp white
kaftan and white shoes identified as, Chidi Lloyd, an honorable member of the
house of assembly & also the houses’ leader holding the Houses’ mace and
pummeling a fellow member, Michael Chinda.
Various news reporters share their versions
of the meltdown that has just occurred in the House of Assembly complex. The
general consensus is that 5 out of the 32 members of the house of assembly, who
are also members of the anti-Amaechi faction of the PDP in the state have decided
to impeach the speaker of the house of assembly, Otelemaba Amachree and appoint
Evans Bipi as the new speaker.
The pro-Amaechi members there present make
their way to government house to let Rotimi Amaechi know that there is a reign
of Impunity in the RSHA. They make their way back to the House of Assembly
Complex with the governor and that is when Michael Chinda’s assault by Chidi
Lloyd ensues. Since it has become an open for all wrestling competition, Evans
Bipi goes into town and gathers thugs to help him handle the pro-Amaechi
lawmakers.
In a longer version of the video circulated
by Sahara reporters, Tele Ikuru, the deputy governor of the state is seen hugging
Evans Bipi and asking him to calm down. Bipi is also heard telling Tele Ikuru
that he cannot believe that the governor has just supervised the manhandling of
his colleagues.
If you have been following the crisis in
Rivers State closely, you’d know that there are two factions of the state’s
PDP. The faction led by Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the faction led by Ezebunwo
Nyesom-Wike. Amaechi has had a series of fallouts with Patience Jonathan and
most recently the NGF elections drama with Goodluck Jonathan. The Presidency
has thus chosen to support the Nyesom-Wike faction and this was made clear by
Patience Jonathan at the wedding ceremony of Evans Bipi a few weeks ago when
she expressed her love for Nyesom-Wike. Also, there was a court ruling that
removed G.U Ake as chairman of the state’s PDP and installed Felix Obuah. This
in my opinion was a move by the presidency to destabilize Amaechi’s government.
The Legislative houses in Nigeria have been
known to get physical when members sometimes have conflicting opinions.
Remember the various House of Representatives fight sessions. This however, is
by far the most embarrassing & most barbaric. The problem with Rivers State
is a lack of enlightenment. I have heard some of these politicians answer
questions posed at them/ speak in general and I’ve thought to myself, “I
probably have more knowledge in planning and Implementation that this man does”
I don’t believe that 5 men would have the
capability to impeach a serving speaker. My judgement is that the anti-Amaechi
faction bought out some members of the pro-Amaechi faction because with the
on-goings in the state, impeaching Amaechi was a very strong likelihood. Hence,
with more in-house support, the 5 anti-Amaechi lawmakers were able to stage the
fiasco.
If I were mature enough by Nigerian
standards to hold an office, I wouldn’t want to hold it in Rivers State.
Interacting with most of these politicians is very exhausting. You begin to wonder
if they just forged school certificates. I believe that most of the men better
suited to hold office have chosen to stay entirely out of state politics as it
is dominated by Insane, power-hungry & blood thirsty people.
I am anti both factions as I believe
neither has the best interest of the state at heart. In all honesty, I don’t
care what these politicians do with themselves. My worry however is for the
masses. The current state of insecurity would affect businesses, the Rivers
State University of Science & Technology is currently on strike & Civil
Servants will definitely have their salary payments delayed. Port Harcourt has
over the years become a shadow of its self, thanks to militancy and the surge
in kidnapping. Port Harcourt does not need this instability! Two men with
inflated egos do not have the right to affect the general public due to their
personal differences. The charade needs to STOP! With all the politicking going on now, and our
direct access to information via social media, I’m sure come 2015 with a hope
for transparency, we know whom not to vote into office.
These men have stashed away enough to
afford them exile if situations go horribly wrong; it is we, the masses who
will suffer the effect of a run-down city.
I hope Michael Chinda files an attempted
murder lawsuit against Chidi Lloyd. He definitely deserves some jail time. The
Jonathan’s need to focus more on National issues and less involve themselves in
state affairs. Rivers politicians & thugs need to remind themselves that,
home indeed is where the heart lies. We need to re-build the garden city not
tear it down.
