- 27 Assembly members exhibited lawlessness – Jackson
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Some members of Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) may lose their seats, following recall threats from their constituents.
Specifically, the people of Etche State Constituency Two in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have declared their seat vacant following the defection of the House of Assembly member, Chimezie Nwankwo.
They have demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should commence the process of conducting a fresh election for the seat.
One of the traditional leaders in Igboh Kingdom, Kemakolom Nwanuo, said their decision to recall the House of Assembly member representing them followed his defection to APC, which was not the platform on which he was voted in.
Nwanuo, who is the Ogunba I of Igboh Kingdom, also reacted to the recent rift within the Assembly, former governor and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.
He said Igboh Kingdom as a people, stand with the governor and cautioned against distraction that could lead to lack of concentration on governance.
On his part, a concerned leader of Etche Solidarity Movement (ESM), Samuel Nwala, said as Etche people, they were in support of the position of national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party that the seat of the 27 members of the state House of Assembly should be declared vacant.
Nwala revealed that the recall process of Nwankwo representing Etche Constituency Two will commence fully after a week, if he fails to do the needful by going back to the party at which the people voted him for.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, Omenazu Jackson, has described the defection of the 27 lawmakers as an act of lawlessness.
Jackson said by constitutional provisions of 1999 constitution as amended, the 27 parliamentarians in Rivers State House of Assembly, who abandoned their mandate given to them by political party, have seized to be parliamentarians.
He said: “The moral position of the constitution dictates that the people have been fooled at last.
Hence, there is need to seek fresh mandate to determine their acceptance based on their new found manifesto.”
According to him, the previous manifesto has been invalidate based on contract of offer and acceptance.
Jackson continued: “The party has a mutual/constitutional contract with the people based on their manifesto. It is criminal to still remain under such previous mandate with a different manifesto. It is a criminal breach of trust to do so.”
The group’s chancellor said federal government under APC-controlled government should not in anyway encourage lawlessness and shouldn’t be beneficial of crime and criminal boldness of some Nigerians.
“Having a society where there is rule of law will be more beneficial to all. It is dangerous for the public to have an impression that APC members are above the law.”
He warned: “Crooked political behaviour will lead to anarchy if the so-called political actors are not mindful of their behaviours and conduct.
“The Nigerian populace are not naive nor did we all escape from a psychiatrist hospital untreated, so as not to understand our environment and what we want.
“We know our laws its extent interpretations and full meaning. These ‘above the law mentality’ should stop forthwith. No citizen is a half citizen and we all have equal rights. The few who are temporarily privileged shouldn’t in anyway take others as fools.
“International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR) demands immediate vacation of the parliamentary seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly by the defected parliamentarians.
“There should be no middle ground about it. “A mandate abandoned is a mandate lost.”
According to him, failure to comply with the provisions of the law in this instance will definitely lead to a protracted legal battle between his organisation and the aforementioned lawmakers.
He continued: “We are committed to pursue this course to its logical end including using public protest to demand for justice for Rivers State electorate whose mandate is about to be brazenly manipulated through crass political brigandage.
“Any society whose symbol of authority is constantly been attacked by democratic ursurpers is a society heading to mutual assured destruction.
“We are resolute in sustaining our constitutional authority as electorate and citizens and will at all times, henceforth, demand responsible conduct from our political elites.
“Today, PDP is crying foul, but were criminal beneficiaries earlier when they were controlling levers of government at the federal level in Nigeria and, of course, in clear violation of section 109 (e) of 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“It is pertinent for PDP to note that equity and justice is the only viable means to sustain human relationship. Posterity will be an eloquent witness for those who deal with humanity with embedded justice and equity.”