12/07/2013
PRESS STATEMENT
THE MAYHEM AT THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IS CONDEMNABLE
 |
| Rivers State House of Commotion |
The June 12 Coalition of
Democratic Formations (J12CODEF) condemns in strong terms the mayhem visited on
the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State house of assembly by some miscreants
which resulted in damage to properties as well as physical assault on some honourable
members.
We regard this criminal act as
not only a National embarrassment and an assault on the democratic rights of
Rivers people in particular and Nigerians in general, but also as a clear
violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is
condemnable and of which the full weight of the law must be visited on the
perpetrators and their sponsors.
We at June 12 Coalition of
Democratic Formations (J12CODEF) welcomes the order for an immediate investigation
into this criminality by the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji M.D. Abubakar
but are disappointed by his unfortunate and prejudicial comments of exonerating
the Rivers State Commissioner of Police of any blame even before his
investigative team commences work and when reality clearly points in the other
direction.
We want to put the Inspector
General of Police on notice, that the Nigerian populace and the international
community are watching with the expectation that his office handle this matter
in a professional and patriotic way in tandem with his oath of office because
doing otherwise is capable of compromising National security and officially
confirming the image of the Nigerian Police as an irresponsible, corrupt and
indisciplined institution.
However, we must commend both
Houses of the National Assembly for their prompt response to this national
embarrassment but beg to differ with the motion of the House of Representatives
to take over the legislative functions of Rivers State house of Assembly which
is wrong since there is no crisis in the Rivers State legislative house but
rather the illegal and unconstitutional attempt by some rebellious members of
the house to follow in the footsteps of the disgruntled governors of the
Nigeria Governors Forum to bring the house to public opprobrium.
We want to use this medium to
alert Nigerians and the international community that this latest violence is
another attempt by enemies of our democracy and progress to cause a breach of
public peace in order to justify a declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state
since other undemocratic means to intimidate Governor Rotimi Amaechi has
failed.
We also want to alert the whole
world, that because of the unfolding security crisis in Rivers state, the
Inspector General of Police, Alhaji M. D. Abubakar should be held responsible
for the safety of not only Governor Rotimi Amaechi, but for any breach of
public peace in the state.
We equally want to call on the
Rivers State government and the house of assembly to immediately institute a
commission of inquiry to examine the immediate and remote causes of this
mayhem, identify the perpetrators and their sponsors and recommend appropriate
legal measures which should be enforced constitutionally.
Thanks,
Yours Sincerely,
Baba Omojola, Nelson
Ekujumi
Chairman. General
Secretary
No comments:
Post a Comment