Amaechi Ignited The Crisis In Rivers- Hon. Evans Bipi
…Says: I am The Authentic Speaker
The factional Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Evans Bipi, had a press interview with some journalists in Abuja about the current crisis in Rivers State. Excerpts:
Q: Sir, before now what was your relationship with Gov. Amaechi?
A: As you all know, our relationship was very mutual and brotherly due to our belief in progressive and good governance for our people. But after few years with him on how to move to the state forward and how to carry everybody along in the process of governance in the state, his body language showed no sign of change, coupled with his nonchalant attitude and disrespect for people. He started insulting the elders, stakeholders and people that brought him to the party. Of importance, recently was his abusive language on the father and leader of the party which in other climes is tantamount to indiscipline and anti-party activities. We, as stakeholders, called and warned him, but he failed to listen to the voice of reasoning. His anti-party romance with the opposition also sowed seeds of discord within the party hierarchy along with his high-handedness, arrogance and his disrespect for constituted authorities.
Q: How many members of the Rivers State House of Assembly impeached the speaker?
A: The Rivers State House of Assembly not only formed a quorum, but we were all complete in the house; it was few lawmakers that took excuse and the rest of us all were present. When the process of impeachment was over and I was given the mandate to deliver my acceptance for the beginning of a new drawn in Rivers. Suddenly the governor bashed in with his security aides and started man-handling the innocent lawmakers in the hallowed chambers; that action is sacrilegious and unheard of in the annal of democracy.
Gentlemen of the press, you will agree with me, the only option left is to run for our dear lives and in the process Hon. Lloyd came to the Chamber with AK47 and used the mace to batter an innocent colleague, who, today, as I speak to you, is still critically ill in the hospital. What a shame!
Yet the same character goes about moralizing and sermonizing about good governance, rule of law and justice, whereas the reverse is the case! For the avoidance of doubt, ladies and gentlemen, Amaechi ignited the crisis by invading the Chamber without due process of the law. He had the option of going to court to challenge the impeachment of the former Speaker. But he chose violence, he threw the first stone, and as his glass house was getting shattered, he began pontificating. Whatever happened afterward was a result of his violent act in the hallowed house. His violence uncontrollably begot violence.
Q: Sir, after the impeachment what happened? Can you explain the mayhem that ensued?
A: After the impeachment, Amaechi broke protocol, invaded the Chambers with security aides, thugs and all manners of hoodlums and started brutalizing selfless lawmakers who were in the Chambers to conduct their legitimate official business. The aftermath is what everybody in seeing today. Amaechi successfully 'muzzled' and spun the press to his favour by distorting facts, figures and information about the true state of affairs in Rivers State. All the information emanating from Rivers State these few days after the stampede are all lies, fallacies, propaganda orchestrated by Amaechi's machinery and spin doctors. We thank God that no lives were lost; the authorities quickly rose to the occasion, restoring sanity and order to the 'treasure base' of our nation.
Perhaps, Amaechi does not understand the importance of Rivers State in the nation's economic calculus. If he did, he would not have engaged in this unnecessary senseless show of shame and impudence.
Rivers State for the records, is very strategic to the peace of this country, and therefore anybody who is interested in the leadership of the state must be levelheaded and mature.
Q: What was the role of security personnel at the scene of the fracas?
A: First of all, we must condemn in totality the unruly behaviour of the Governor's security aides who took the situation into their hands and started man-handling the perceived opponents of the Governor, but aside from that, the police commissioner did everything humanly possible to restore peace not only in the Chambers, but in the entire state.
Q: In the heat of the fracas, it was said that the Deputy Governor was at the Assembly to present an executive amendment to the 2013 budget, whose interest is the amendment?
A: It was an after-thought and a fabrication made to cover up that malfeasance following public condemnation of Amaechi's invasion of the Chambers. Besides, whatever transpired is not constitutionally recognized because I am still the chief presiding officer of Rivers State House of Assembly.
For the last time, let me state categorically, that I am duly elected, sworn-in and I have given my acceptance speech. I am the new Speaker and currently, I have the backing of majority of members of Rivers State House of Assembly, who in their wisdom find me capable, and they duly elected me to lead the chambers to Eldorado.