Rivers PDP to Senator Abe: You are security risk
Following the threat credited to Senator Magnus Abe, that the lawmakers elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State would match into the state House of Assembly to participate in the deliberations of the House if they were not sworn in, the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday raised an alarm, describing the statement as unguided and capable of causing security risk.
The state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, in Port Harcourt, Tuesday, described the directive by the Senator that APC lawmakers should assume duties without being subjected to the oath of office as demanded by law, as unbecoming of one who claimed to be a federal lawmaker.
In a statement from the Chairman’s office and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Jerry Needam, the party expressed worries that Senator Abe’s comments and alleged secret meetings called for concern by patriotic Rivers people.
“The PDP regretted that although Magnus Abe is known for unsavory and disrespectful attacks on the government and people of Rivers State, he has continued to make statements which are not only provocative and incisive, but seriously threaten the peace and security of the State,” the statement continued.
Chief Obuah also expressed concern that Senator Magnus Abe “has openly been making threatening remarks and boastings which, according to him, are very worrisome and likely to destabilize the corporate existence of the people of the State. The PDP is worried at the way and manner Magnus Abe is talking and conducting himself as if he is now the Governor and Chief Security Officer of Rivers State”, Bro. Obuah noted.
The statement also added: “The PDP recalls that some criminal gangs in the State refused to embrace the State Government’s recently concluded amnesty, following attacks by Mr. Abe on the well intended programme.”
Chief Obuah, therefore, called on security agencies to put Magnus Abe “under surveillance as his actions, if not checked, could result to breakdown of law and order in the State.”
Last Friday, Senator Abe, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, said the option has become expedient following the insistence of Governor Nyesom Wike that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly would not swear in the APC lawmakers.
“If the Speaker will not swear them in, they will match into the House of Assembly and take their place because they have been returned,” the Senator had said.
Senator Abe condemned the decision of the governor of Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to swear in the duly elected APC members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing it as rascality and impunity.
“This kind of rascality and impunity that we are experiencing in Rivers State will not be allowed and tolerated,” he stated, and urged well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the actions of the governor as such could derail our democracy.
He added that the swearing-in of members of the House was not constitutional but ceremonial, arguing that in the absence of the swearing-in, the elected legislators had the right to participate in the deliberations.
