Senate Committee Recommends Rivers Police Boss Redeployment,Take Over Of House Functions

The Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration,  has recommended that the National Assembly should take over  the functions of the  Rivers assembly  following its  inability to carry out its  functions.

The House of Representatives had on July 10  passed a resolution, urging the National Assembly to take over the  duties  of  the assembly.

It hinged its decision on Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

The Senate’s committee, which investigated the fracas by the lawmakers, also  recommended the redeployment of  the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, because of  the  rift between him and  Amaechi.

Although a copy of the report was not immediately available, a member of the Kabiru Gaya-led  committee,  told one of  our correspondents in confidence,  that they   found out that the crisis   was fuelled by the conflict between the governor and the Presidency.

According to him, there were indications that the Presidency was supporting the five members of the assembly, who attempted to sack the speaker.

He said, “From our findings, it was clear that the two parties had faults. The Presidency,  on one side backing a faction of the members of the assembly and the Governor on the other hand, supporting the other faction.

“We found  the action of the five members  despicable. The action of the Majority Leader, who used the mace to hit  the head of one of his colleagues was also  despicable.

“We also discovered that the Commissioner of Police and the governor can no longer work together to secure the state. One has to leave and of course you cannot ask the governor to leave. So the commissioner will have to go.

“We are also recommending that the National Assembly should take over the functions of the assembly, given the current state of affairs at the legislature.”