RIVERS CRISIS: Reasons NASS took over State Assembly; The Amaechi connection

•Rivers counts the cost of face-off

It has emerged that the governor of Rivers State, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, was instrumental to the takeover of the state House of Assembly by the National Assembly last week.

Last Thursday, the Senate voted for a takeover of Rivers State House of Assembly, thus, concurring with the earlier position of the House of Representatives on the contentious matter.

Sources in the National Assembly, however, confirmed to Sunday Tribune that the decision of the Senate was long in coming because the lawmakers were not easily convinced that the takeover was imperative.

But it was gathered that lobbyists loyal to the governor actually pressurized the two chambers into taking the final decision.

It was confirmed that the Amaechi camp was becoming jittery at the conduct and loyalty of members of the House of Assembly, especially, following the recent impeachment threat against the speaker.

“Even though 27 members of the state Assembly have declared their loyalty to Amaechi, the governor appeared uncomfortable that anything could happen and that an impeachment move could be made against him.

“He is not really sure of the loyalty of the lawmakers, despite the declaration that 27 of them are on his side,” a source said, adding that the fear also informed the suits already instituted by Amaechi against any impeachment bid.

It was gathered that Amaechi started smelling a rat the day some lawmakers announced the removal of the speaker.

According to a source, the governor had to move promptly into the Assembly complex to ensure that the removal bid was nipped in the bud because he was sure that the camp of the opposition would immediately swell if the impeachment had sailed through.

It was also gathered that the governor has started feeling that some members of the House, who are being lobbied with return tickets to the House, could succumb someday and give him a shocking treatment.

It was gathered that the governor’s lobbyists in the National Assembly benefitted from the aloofness of the Presidency in the matter when it was being debated in the Senate, as many senators felt that the fact that the Villa did not communicate with them meant that it was not concerned about the outcome of the issue.

It was further gathered that the camp of the governor was pleased that activities of the Rivers State lawmakers have been hanged up with the intervention of the National Assembly.

According to sources, the Amaechi camp has learnt a lesson in dealing with the camp said to be loyal to the Presidency.

“The governor seemed to hold the belief that when dealing with the camp believed to be loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan, he cannot afford to blink an eye. The manner in which former Bayelsa State governor, Timpre Sylva, was shoved aside said a lot about the difficult nature of dealing with Jonathan’s men and Amaechi is not ready to take chances,” another source said.

The source said lobbyists loyal to the governor actually reached out to all senators to sell their position and ensure the Senate concurred with the House of Representatives over this matter.

Source: Nigerian Tribune