Based on the provisions of section 11 (4) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended, the senate yesterday backed the action of the House of Representatives to taking over the functions and duties of the disarrayed Rivers State House of Assembly. The Senate also resolved that #the Inspector-General of police, Mohammed Abubakar should transfer the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, out of the state since his relationship with the governor, Chibuike Amaechi had collapsed badly. #They tasked the three senators from Rivers State to use their positions to promote peace and prevent an escalation of the crisis in the state.
The Senate President, David mark explained that the action of the Senate was predicated on the first hand information it obtained through its fact-finding Committee on states and local government administration which investigated the matter in the state last week and his remark: # “We spent several hours this morning discussing in great detail the situation in Rivers State. We devoted so many hours because we believe it is important that we look at it from the prism of our own committee that went there to find out exactly what happened. And we are happy we sent our own team to investigate and report back to us. #“Our final objective, and throughout our discussion, was to ensure that peace returns to Rivers State. That was the focus of the discussion this morning. #Our appeal to all the principal actors involved is that unless there is peace in Rivers State they cannot ensure development in state. We want development across the length and breadth of this country. Therefore, we use the opportunity once more before we go to prayers to appeal that all those involved sheathe their swords so that peace can reign in Rivers State. #“The committee has not indicted any particular group of people. It has not indicted any section and I don’t think it has indicted any individual. The reason is because we want to ensure that there is peace. The Senate as a body wants to be an integral part of the solution to the problem in Rivers State. We remain neutral. We've not taken sides with any group and we are not going to take sides but we will stand on facts. #“When we eventually approve our prayers, those prayers will be based on the facts that are known to us and our neutral position. And we hope that all the parties involved would appreciate that what we want to ensure is peace in Rivers State. #“All we want is that peace to returns to Rivers State. Let me add that the National Assembly will uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as we all individually swore to do. And this we will do at all times and at all cost. Let me leave no one in doubt that the impunities of the past remain in the past. And the past is gone for good. All that is left is for the proper lessons to be learnt from the past. #“Minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot remove, and should therefore, never contemplate the impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly or anyone else for that matter and should perish the thought if they ever harboured it. #“Our institutions of state must also uphold the constitution at all times and must not in any way encourage the impression that impunities of the past are possible today. This National Assembly, for the avoidance of doubt, would resist impunity and unconstitutionality.
This is the stand of the Senate. And once more, I must emphasize that we remain neutral and we want to see an end to the crisis in Rivers State.” #
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