A lawyer and activist, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has hailed the five PDP lawmakers who selected amongst themselves a Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly as having shown reasonable commitment to perform their constitutional duties in governance.
In an interview in Calabar, Ahiakwo said that for the five to elect Victor Oko-Jumbo as the Speaker, conveys a strong message that not all the lawmakers are APC members and a demonstration of legitimacy.
He, however, admitted that it is an embarrassing situation that calls for an urgent intervention from the National Assembly, stressing that the Federal Government must step up efforts at redeeming the principles of democracy as they are entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The five Assembly members who elected amongst themselves the new Speaker of the State House of Assembly have shown reasonable commitment to perform their constitutional duties in governance.
“They must function to uphold the integrity of the legislative arm of government provided by the said 1999 Constitution,” he said.
He was not worried that their action could hamper peace and unity in Rivers State.
“I am convinced that the age-long tradition of the Rivers people, known for their peaceful disposition and coexistence, will endure regardless of whether the political scam was pushed by some perceived influential or greedy politicians. The fear of throwing the state into crisis is a far cry from the enemies of progress.
“My advice to the other State House of Assembly members is that they should realise the fact that people voted them into the legislative arm of government and must not act on their own.
“I can see the end of the crisis coming soon with the judiciary to the rescue,” he said.
Rivers crisis: 5 lawmakers show commitment to constitutional duties – Lawyer
