It has emerged that the governor of Rivers State, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, was instrumental to the takeover of the state House of Assembly by the National Assembly last week.
Last Thursday, the Senate voted for a takeover of Rivers State House of
Assembly, thus, concurring with the earlier position of the House of
Representatives on the contentious matter.
Sources in the National
Assembly, however, confirmed to Sunday Tribune that the decision of the
Senate was long in coming because the lawmakers were not easily
convinced that the takeover was imperative.
But it was gathered that lobbyists loyal to the governor actually pressurised the two chambers into taking the final decision.
It was confirmed that the Amaechi camp was becoming jittery at the
conduct and loyalty of members of the House of Assembly, especially,
following the recent impeachment threat against the speaker.
“Even
though 27 members of the state Assembly have declared their loyalty to
Amaechi, the governor appeared uncomfortable that anything could happen
and that an impeachment move could be made against him.
“He is not
really sure of the loyalty of the lawmakers, despite the declaration
that 27 of them are on his side,” a source said, adding that the fear
also informed the suits already instituted by Amaechi against any
impeachment bid.
It was gathered that Amaechi started smelling a rat the day some lawmakers announced the removal of the speaker.
According to a source, the governor had to move promptly into the
Assembly complex to ensure that the removal bid was nipped in the bud
because he was sure that the camp of the opposition would immediately
swell if the impeachment had sailed through.
It was also gathered
that the governor has started feeling that some members of the House,
who are being lobbied with return tickets to the House, could succumb
someday and give him a shocking treatment.
It was gathered that the
governor’s lobbyists in the National Assembly benefitted from the
aloofness of the Presidency in the matter when it was being debated in
the Senate, as many senators felt that the fact that the Villa did not
communicate with them meant that it was not concerned about the outcome
of the issue.
It was further gathered that the camp of the governor
was pleased that activities of the Rivers State lawmakers have been
hanged up with the intervention of the National Assembly.
According to sources, the Amaechi camp has learnt a lesson in dealing with the camp said to be loyal to the Presidency.
“The governor seemed to hold the belief that when dealing with the camp
believed to be loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan, he cannot afford
to blink an eye. The manner in which former Bayelsa State governor,
Timpre Sylva, was shoved aside said a lot about the difficult nature of
dealing with Jonathan’s men and Amaechi is not ready to take chances,”
another source said.
The source said lobbyists loyal to the governor
actually reached out to all senators to sell their position and ensure
the Senate concurred with the House of Representatives over this matter.
Source: Tribune
