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 Suspended
Council Chairmen In Rivers Threaten Court Action
…As ACN, Lawyers, Rivers People React
Governor Amaechi's unilateral action in suspending eleven Local
Government Council Chairmen in the State has drawn the ire of
the suspended chairmen who have described their suspension as
unconstitutional and threatened to drag the governor to court.
Although, Governor Amaechi said the reason for suspending them
was because they failed to turn up for a meeting they were
invited, National Network gathered that the real motive for
suspending them was as a result of attempts by the council
chairmen to confront the Rivers State Government on a mandatory
deduction of 10 per cent of the council allocations by the State
Government. The fund we further gathered is deducted at source
before the money is paid into the local government council
accounts.
“The protest of the chairmen that they could no longer take it
as it was affecting their development programmes was
misconstrued as disobedience”, a source told National Network.
Some of the chairmen who spoke on condition of anonymity
wondered why the governor acted like a dictator when he
unilaterally suspended them without recourse to the State House
Assembly, while describing the reasons he gave for his action as
laughable.
They have consequently advised the governor to rescind his
decision and return them to their duty posts or face a court
action.
The suspended chairmen are however not alone in the condemnation
of Governor Amaechi's action as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
Rivers State chapter, Lawyers and Rivers people have risen up in
denouncement of the governor's dictatorial behavior.
The ACN, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry
Needam said Amaechi's action amounted to usurpation of the
function of the State House of Assembly and therefore unlawful,
illegal, null and void.
According to ACN, the governor's action violated sections 13 and
64 of the Local Government Law which he (Amaechi) accented to.
The statement insists that although the council chairmen were
illegally put in office against court proceedings challenging
their legitimacy, it is the House of Assembly that is vested
with such powers to call council chairmen to order. “It's also
laughable that the reason given for such extreme action of the
governor is lateness and or absentation to a governmental
meeting, a proof that governor Amaechi is more of a sole
administrator than a democrat”, the statement noted. The ACN
described the governor's action as executive lawlessness. “This
is what happens when the people have been cowed and opposition
silenced, and in the absence of who to traumatize, the devourer
turns to its own kind”, the ACN remarked, enjoining Governor
Amaechi to as a matter of urgency rescind his decision.
A legal practioner in Port Harcourt, Barrister S. Efik told
National Network that the action was unconstitutional as it
offends section 7 of the constitution. He averred that by his
action, Governor Amaechi usurped the role of the legislature as
well as that of the Judiciary. “The action is most whimsical,
arbitrary and capricious to say the least,” Barrister Efik said.
Another legal practioner, Barrister Gideon K. G. said the
Governor's suspension of the eleven (11) council chairmen was an
aberration, showing that true Federation is elusive in Nigeria.
Speaking in the same vein, eminent Port Harcourt lawyer and
Public Affair Analyst, Faye Dikio in an interview with Beacon
said Amaechi had no right to suspend the council chairmen.
He said elected officials of government are timid and
subservient and so lack the courage to stand on their own to
challenge such issues when it arise between them and the
governor.
“I must tell you that Nigeria is still being governed as if the
country is under a military regime. The action of suspending
local government chairmen by the governor recently is one
evidence of this fact. Frankly speaking, a governor does not
have any legal right, just by mere word of mouth, that he has
suspended elected local government chairmen”, the legal luminary
posited.
Rivers people had equally condemned the governor's action and
asked him to rescind it. Some of them who spoke to our reporter
on condition of anonymity said Amaechi should stop indulging in
actions and behaviours that tend to portray him as an arrogant
and dictatorial leader.
Such actions, they maintained, could make him unpopular.###
...As Amaechi Swears In 10 Acting Council Chairmen
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi Tuesday, January 10, 2012
swore in 10 acting council chairmen.
They were sworn in following the suspension of 11 council
chairmen.
Though no reason was given for the suspension but it was
gathered that the 11th person, a woman was not sworn in because
her mater is still being looked into.
Those sworn in include: Sampson G. Egop (Andoni); Bestman Amadi
(Ikwerre); Stanley Benibo (Akuku-Toru); Imbremieye Sunday (Okrika);
George Allwell (Asari-Toru).
Others were Melford Ezebalike (Ahaoda West); Ndidi Erim (Emohuoa);
Nwaobakato Franklin (Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni); Patrick Alapuberesika
(Opobo/Nkoro); and Britain D. Ewor (Ahoada East).
The governor urged the acting chairmen to work for the benefit
of their people and not to misuse council funds.
“As acting chairmen, let me warn that your job is not to tamper
with resources of your people illegally”, he said.
On the suspension of the council chairmen, Gov Amaechi said,
“the decision to suspend 11 council chairmen was taken with a
lot of challenges in my mind but it was necessary to take that
decision”.###
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