Rivers APC Lawmaker’s suspension against decent legislative practice – Senator Abe says

The senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has declared that the suspension of an All Progressives Congress (APC) Lawmaker in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Azubuike Chikere Wanjoku, went against the grain of decent legislative practice.

Senator Abe said the suspension of Wanjoku, representing Ikwerre Constituency in the House, was calculated to stifle the voice of opposition and suppress divergent views necessary for good governance and the sustenance of democracy.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his Spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, Abe expressed worry that some actions of the present leadership of the House of Assembly could affect the reputation built for the house by the collective labour of Rivers Legislators over the years.

The Senator called on the House to rescind the suspension of the APC Lawmaker and restore his legitimate constitutional rights, and the right of the people of Ikwerre Constituency to be represented in the affairs of Rivers State.

He said, “I have been very concerned since I got the news of the suspension of Hon Chikere Azubike Wanjoku, member representing Ikwerre Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly by a resolution of the House.

“My concern stems from what that decision portends for the institution of the State House of Assembly as the suspension is calculated to stifle the voice of opposition and suppress divergent views necessary for good governance and the sustenance of democracy.

“The decision suspending Hon. Azubuike Wanjoku goes against the grain of decent legislative practice. He was not giving fair hearing neither were the issues against him canvassed to the knowledge of the public,” he said.

He said that as a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, he was concerned that some of those actions at the end of the day could affect the reputation built for the house by the collective labour of Rivers Legislators over the years.

“The house must understand that they are not just today’s members, but inheritors of the proud and lofty mandate that has attracted the confidence of Rivers people throughout its existence.

Suspension of an elected official is an abrogation of the constitutional right of his constituency to be adequately represented in the affairs of the state.

“Rivers State House of Assembly must rise above parochial partisan divisions and allow Rivers State to find peace.

The decision to suspend an elected member particularly one elected on the platform of the opposition does nothing to change the narrative of division and bitterness that has defined our politics. We can and we must do things differently,” he stated.

He, therefore, called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to rescind the suspension of Hon. Chikere Byke Wanjoku, member representing Ikwerre Constituency, and restore his legitimate constitutional rights, and the right of the people of Ikwerre state constituency to be represented in the affairs or Rivers State.

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt