INJURED RIVERS LAWMAKER TO BE FLOWN ABROAD FOR TREATMENT

The Rivers State factional chairman of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has said that arrangements
have been concluded to fly abroad, for better treatment, the injured
anti-Amaechi lawmaker, Michael Okechukwu Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor II
constituency.

Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday, he also
called for thorough investigation, arrest and prosecution of the lawmakers and
others involved in attempted murder in the Rivers State House of Assembly on
July 9.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port
Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, however, declared yesterday that the “intimidation
and madness” in Rivers State must stop forthwith.

The five anti-Amaechi lawmakers: Chinda, Kelechi
Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bapakaye Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Martins Amaewhule
(Obio/Akpor I) and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III), are loyal to the Minister
of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike.

The pro-Wike legislators on July 9 attempted to
impeach the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, to pave the way for the eventual
removal of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria
Governors’ Forum (NGF), but was resisted.

The resistance led to exchange of blows by the
lawmakers and their supporters in the main chambers of the House of Assembly,
with injuries sustained by Amachree; the leader of the House, Chidi Lloyd, a
lawyer, who represents Emohua constituency; and Chinda, leading to the breaking
of the mace.

The “rebel” lawmakers hurriedly made Bipi the
“new speaker,” and as he was making his acceptance speech, Amaechi stormed the
Assembly with Amachree, other loyal lawmakers and their aides, resulting in free-for-all,
with the speaker (Amachree) eventually presiding and adjourning sitting
indefinitely.

On July 10, the Assembly was sealed off by the
police, when the five anti-Amaechi lawmakers, in a 32-member House, attempted
to sit, with the main gate of the expansive premises taken over from 6 am by
the governor’s supporters, who were later confronted by Wike’s loyalists, led
by Bipi.

Soldiers and policemen had to use teargas to
disperse the protesting youths, with some of the teargas canisters landing in the
Government House, Port Harcourt, which angered Amaechi, who declared that the
state was under siege.

Soldiers and the two Armoured Personnel Carriers
(APCs) in Government House, Port Harcourt were eventually withdrawn by the
Commanding Officer of the Elele Barracks in Rivers State without official
communication, and was widely condemned.

The House of Representatives had to take over the
functions of the Rivers Assembly and called for the redeployment of the state’s
Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, whom they accused of taking sides.

Okocha said: “Nigerians need to stand up against
this madness of impunity, harassment and intimidation in Rivers State. It is
the only panacea for our democracy.”

Obuah, however, stated that the only way to
prevent a reoccurrence of the barbarism exhibited on the floor of the Rivers
State House of ssembly on July 9 was to ensure that those indicted in the
attempted murder were brought to book.

He said: “We are calling for the immediate
investigation of Governor Amaechi’s role in the saga, the immediate arrest and
prosecution of Chidi Lloyd, Governor Amaechi’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) and
his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), for carrying out the despicable act to impress their
paymaster.

“Not even in the worst democracies of the world
can a lawmaker willfully premeditate and position to hack a fellow lawmaker to
death, as Chidi Lloyd did to Hon. Michael Okechukwu Chinda.

“Up till now, neither Governor Amaechi nor Chidi
Lloyd and their blood-thirsty accomplices have been invited for explanation by
the relevant security agencies, over the attempted murder.

“Chidi Lloyd is yet to realise that parliamentary
immunity from prosecution over speeches made on the floor of the House of
Assembly, does not guarantee a deliberate attempt to kill or cause bodily harm
on his colleagues or any other person, within the Assembly complex.

“Hon. Chinda is lying critically ill in a private
hospital in Port Harcourt; where series of surgery have been performed to save
his life,stitch his broken head and nose, among other bodily injuries.

“It is indeed dramatic to see Hon. Chidi Lloyd
lying on a hospital bed, pretending to be ill, when indeed he used the House’s
mace to hit Hon. Chinda, who doctors are battling to save his life.

“It is Rivers PDP’s position that the attempted
murder, deplorable and barbaric acts of Chidi Lloyd and Governor Amaechi’s
personal aides be thoroughly investigated and appropriate sanctions given, if
the very basic essence of legislative business in a democracy is not to be
undermined.

“The PDP and Rivers people will no longer fold
their arms and watch the rain of terror on the entire state by a few persons,
whose inordinate ambition to hold on to power has frenzied them to go berserk.”

The factional chairman also urged Rivers people, especially
PDP members, to remain calm and go about their normal activities without fear.

He condemned the resolution of the House of
Representatives to take over the functions of the Rivers House of Assembly,
while describing the call for the redeployment of the Rivers State Commissioner
of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, as uncalled for.