The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee has stressed the need for politicians in the state to always conform to rule of law saying that only strict compliance to it would avert chaos and breakdown of law and order in the prevailing political challenges in the State.
Speaking when a delegation of the Law Graduates Forum of Rivers State led by the President, Mazi Augustine Nnaemeka paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Port Harcourt, the Deputy Speaker said that chaos was averted because the Rivers State House of Assembly insisted on the rule of law in handling the challenges.
Hon. Kwanee who is also the Chairman of Parliamentary Exchange and Mentorship Programme of the Pan-African Parliament, said only compliance to such was the saving grace of the State as the opponents of the governor were bent on employing extra legal means to drive their inordinate ambitions and cause a state of emergency.
He said that the Rivers State House of Assembly was mindful of their plans to achieve this and avoided steps likely to overheat the polity in the interest of the ordinary Rivers man.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly under the current leadership is being mindful not to allow a situation where we play into the hands of the anti democratic forces to overheat the polity”.
He described their actions and the way they went about it as unpatriotic and counter to the dreams of the founding fathers of the state.
Hon. Kwanee who represents Khana Constituency 2 in the state Assembly advised them to limit their interest and actions according to the rule of law.
He told the delegation that as law graduates that they will find out that there was obvious flagrant disregard to Court order and abuse of power by some of the security agencies in the imbroglio.
“I am sure a lot of you were in the Court on that fateful morning when the judgment and the ruling came that the authority of the police should vacate Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Premises and as I speak to you that Court order has not been obeyed”.
This, he said, does not augur well for our democracy, good and responsible governance and the administration of justice.
He advised that for our democracy to grow, efforts must be made to play politics according to rules.
“So all you need to do is to ensure that you mobilize sufficient support that the rule of law must be obeyed”. I feel very excited and elated this morning to see lawyers in the making lending their voices to condemn the mockery of democracy in the Nigeria Governors Forum. If you will be so sensitive to the happenings around us and you can now put yourselves together in order to lend your voice and take a stand that you are protecting the ideals of democracy is an indication of hope for Nigeria”.
The Deputy Speaker decried the political rascality being exhibited by the opponents of the governor, which he said has lost every sense of civility and feared that if not checkmated by law and order, the young ones could pick up such negative values which may not augur well in the political development of the nation.
“Democracy will be in serious danger if we allow a situation where rascality is allowed to prevail. If we have a tendency where the rule of man prevails over the rule of law then our democracy would be in jeopardy”.
He, however, commended the governor for the way and manner he has conducted himself in the prevailing political challenges in the state.
“I want to commend His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the manner in which he has conducted himself in the face of the unwarranted opposition, attacks and rascality. He has demonstrated that he is a true democrat. We will constantly build our support around him”.
Earlier, Mazi Augustine Nnaemeka said they had visited the Deputy Speaker to register their unflinching support to the present administration in the state for doggedly defending the ideals of democracy, good governance, rule of law and justice in the state under the prevailing challenging state of affairs.
He seized the opportunity to congratulate Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on his successful re-election as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, a feat which he said epitomizes the democratic aspirations of all Nigerians.
The President further commended the giant developmental strides of the governor and urged him not to be distracted by the prevailing political challenges but to redouble his characteristic commitment to democracy, good governance, rule of law, justice and fear of God even as he assured him of their loyalty.
He also commended the leadership and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for their dogged commitment in the protection of the ideals of democracy. “Any attempt to undermine and intimidate the legislature is an assault on the very ideals of democracy; which is rooted in the idea of the majority having their way and the minority having their say. Hence, the legislature must be guarded jealously by all genuine lovers of democracy, which is the reason why as well meaning and reasonable youths we are here today to lend our voices in solidarity and support to the leadership of the House of Assembly under the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree and Deputy Speaker Hon. Leyii Kwanee as well as other principal officers and members for their commitment in the protection of the ideals of democracy, rule of law, good governance and justice in a bid to guarantee the greatest happiness to the greater number of Rivers people”
Source: NyoKhana.com
