Rivers leadership crisis breeds anarchy – Group warns

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness has stated that the rift between the Rivers State Executive and its Legislative counterpart is becoming worrisome and the actions of the chief executive officer is akin to anarchy.
The group through it’s Director General, Dr Gabriel Nwambu, said it cannot allow a threat to the hard-earned democracy to thrive in Nigeria where we operate a constitutional democracy, where the rule of law stipulating the supremacy and predominance of the law should be practiced to the later.
The group said that they are talking about a purported assembly where 3 persons parade themselves as law makers for an entire state contradicting clearly the provisions of section 96(1) as amendment which defines one-third (1/3) as what constitutes a quorum.
They maintained that if for any reason the Assembly cannot form quorum, the Assembly shall adjourn, adding that it is never the intendant of those who crafted the 1999 Constitution that only 3 lawmakers shall be enacting laws for the people.
Furthermore, the group faulted the legislative sitting inside the government house as not consistent with the principles of Separation of Power.
They therefore, urge the appropriate authorities to investigate the allegations that chief executive is spending Rivers State funds outside the realm of appropriation, thoroughly and take appropriate actions to safeguard the interests of the citizens.
Also, they call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to beam it’s search light on Justice C.N. Wali of the Rivers State High Court for issuing an ex-parte order contradicting section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
They insisted that the order made by Justice C.N. Wali amounts to Forum Shopping, Abuse of Court Process and tantamount to self-help.
According to them, Wali’s action violated a subsisting Judgement made by Justice J.K. Omotosho stating that the Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule is the Assembly that is recognized by law and certified by the Court.