Rivers Lawmakers Sign MOU With Police In Order To Resume

Twenty-two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday signed an undertaking with the state police command to be of good behaviour so that they could resume sitting.

Their action was in response to a directive by the state police command that the police would not grant the lawmakers access to the assembly complex until they have signed an undertaking to be of good behaviour.

Speaker of the House of Assembly,   Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, who led the 22  lawmakers loyal to the Governor, Mr.  Chibuike Amaechi,  to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Port Harcourt, told journalists that the screening process would involve all members, including the nine that were absent.

He said: “You can see we are only 22 lawmakers present, we came to the state CID to honour the invitation of the police to sign an undertaking before sitting could commence at the assembly, which we have just done.  We were given a form to fill by the police to be of good conduct and behaviour.  We have assured the police that we are going to ensure peace and order during our deliberations, and I am sure the police are satisfied with our response…the remaining nine lawmakers will also come and sign the undertaking.”

He, however, dispelled rumours making the rounds on the factionalisation of the assembly and advised those behind what he described as blackmail and propaganda to drop their differences and support his leadership of legislature in order to contribute to the development of the state.
“There are no two houses of assembly in Rivers State, but only one led by me.  As you can see, we are only 22 lawmakers present here, we hope that the remaining nine lawmakers will come and join us to move the state forward in the interest of our people,” Otelemaba Dan-Amachree explained.

Leader of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers, Mr. Evans Bipi, however said on telephone that the clerk of the assembly had not sent his faction copies of the letter from the police to enable them sign the undertaking.

He said members of his faction were ready to sign the undertaking if they received the invitation.
“I and my members are ready to sign the undertaking. Nothing will make me not to sign the undertaking but let me have the invitation,” Bipi said.
THISDAY gathered that part of the undertaking signed by the lawmakers was that they were ready to submit themselves and their aides to screening for weapons before entry into the assembly complex.

Despite the preparations for the reopening of the assembly, the state police command has said it has not received the certified true copy of the judgment of the Federal High Court  that ordered the re-opening of the assembly.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that the police would open the assembly as soon as they get a copy of the judgment.
He disclosed that more policemen had been deployed in the assembly as part of new safety measures.

He dissociated the police from the leadership tussle in the assembly, saying it is an internal affair of the lawmakers.

Meanwhile, the political crisis in the state appears to be taking a new dimension as an improvised explosive device yesterday went off at the office car park of an Ahoada High Court Judge, Justice C.N Wali.

Wali was the judge who on Monday granted an injunction restraining Bipi from parading himself as the speaker of the assembly.

It was gathered that the incident took place at about 3am.
According to a source, the car park and office of the judge were damaged while his security guard and car were still missing.

The incident is coming barely 24 hours after a similar incident occurred at the office of the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru.

Although government officials tried to play down the incident, it was gathered that what was suspected to be dynamite was hauled into the deputy governor’s office from the William Jumbo Street end of the premises at about 3am and caused damage to two spots where they landed.

Nobody was said to be hurt in the incident. When contacted on both incidents yesterday Muhammad said he was not aware of the incident at the Ahoada High Court.
He however confirmed the deputy governor’s office incident and said the police were already investigating the incident.