Rivers House Passes Budget; PDP Battles Amaechi

The political mess going on in Rivers State is very interesting. PDP is in support of Evans Bipi's claim that he has impeached the Rivers State House of Assembly speaker with just five lawmakers out of about 30 men but the same PDP thinks it is wrong for the majority of 22 lawmakers to pass budget? Very funny!

The political crisis took another dimension on Tuesday when members of the Assembly passed the state 2014 Appropriation Bill into law inside the old auditorium of the House of Assembly which is located within the premises of the Government House in Port Harcourt.

It will be recalled that 23 members of the House loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi had tried to hold plenary in the past in the assembly complex on Moscow Road but were barred by the state Police Command, which said they were relying on the law.

Earlier, the Speaker, Mr. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, had said the assembly took the decision to carry out its legislative functions in the old “chamber” in the Government House premises.

The Deputy House Leader, Mr. Nname Ewor, had moved a motion to designate the place as the chamber of the assembly. The Deputy House Whip, Irene Inimgba, seconded the motion.

Dan-Amachree, who adopted the motion, explained that the decision was based on the insecurity in the state, especially the latest attacks on two high courts in the Ahoada and Etche Local Government Areas.

He also said that the assembly complex was still undergoing renovation, adding that the development made it impossible for the lawmakers to use it to perform their legislative functions.