The Federal House of Representatives on Wednesday stepped forward to curtail the commotion at the Rivers State House of Assembly by invoking Section 11 (sub-section 4) of the constitution to take over the functions of the state Assembly.
Chaired by Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, the House moved that with the level of violence in the state, its duties would now be handled by the upper legislative House.
According to the section, at any time when any House of Assembly of a state is unable to perform its functions by reason of the prevailing situation in the state, the National Assembly may make such Laws for the peace, order and good government of that state with respect to matters on which a House of Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be necessary or expedient until such time as the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions.
It also states that “any such laws enacted by the National Assembly pursuant to this section shall have effect as if they were laws enacted by the House of Assembly of the state.
The House also passed a motion to direct the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to redeploy the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu for ‘dereliction of duties.’
It would have been another round of fracas on Wednesday at the Rivers State House of Assembly, where five members allegedly receiving the backing of the Presidency have decided to become a thorn in the administration of Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.
The five members had slated their sitting for 8am while the 27 other members were to sit at 10am. As early as 7am, the entire Assembly complex was littered with residents of the state. For fear that the situation would degenerate again, the Police had to shut down the Assembly complex on the order of State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu Joseph, who has himself been accused several times of taking sides with the Presidency and the renegades.
The Police barricaded Moscow Road, which has two ends leading to the Assembly Complex with armoured personnel carrier, frisking all those who came into the Assembly.
Confirming the situation, Police Commissioner Mbu affirmed that he received a letter from the Assembly on Tuesday that the House would reconvene on Wednesday.
He said that, sensing danger, he detailed his men to halt the sitting in order to avoid a breach of peace in the state. Mbu, while speaking through State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe denied that the Assembly was sealed off, saying it was only a temporary move to avert any problem. It was learnt that the Police later resorted to the use of tear-gas to disperse the crowd as tension began to mount.
