The confusion in Rivers State is heightening by the minutes as a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly has announced Edison Ehie, the suspended majority Leader of the assembly, as the new speaker of the house.
Ehie, a member representing Ahoada East constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, was earlier on Monday suspended by 24 out of the 32 members of the state assembly led by its Speaker, Martins Amaewhule.
But a statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Fubara, Boniface Onyedi Monday afternoon stated that another 26 members of the assembly “elected the new speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly”.
According to the statement, Ehie’s “emergence as the new Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker came after 26 members of the Assembly elected him during plenary following the suspension of some key officers of the assembly”.
The statement, however did not state where the 26 members sat to hold their plenary or when, following the explosion attack of the assembly and the sealing off of the assembly complex by security agencies.
The statement has it that the new speaker promised: “to discharge his duty without fear or favour but be fair and just to all and sundry, and give to his colleagues their constitutional entitlements”.
“My commitment to Rivers people is that I will be just and fair to all and sundry, I will ensure that the rule of law takes its course, I will not betray my colleagues, I will not betray, Rivers people, I will not betray my constituency.
“I will ensure the independence of the Rivers State House of Assembly is adhered to, with mutual respect for the judiciary and the executive arms of government.”
The new speaker also stated that he would give fair hearing to suspended members of the Assembly through the Committee on Petition.
Rt Hon Ehie also announced that the House has adjourned sine dine following a circular served by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, ( PASAN) to commence an indefinite nationwide strike.
