Confusion reigned this morning in the Rivers State House of Assembly as legislators engaged themselves in a free for all over a battle to oust the Speaker, In the melee which lasted for close to an hour, dangerous weapons were freely used by the legislators and their supporters.
There were conflicting accounts on what sparked the chaos, depending on what side of the political divide in the eyewitness belonged.
A law maker close to Governor Chibuike Amaechi told Pointblanknews that trouble started when member representing Ogu Bolu constituency, Evans Bipi, physically assaulted the Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree long before the day’s session began.
“No sooner had Bipi stormed the Assembly with hundreds of militants than he slapped an unsuspecting Speaker in the full glare of everybody, including the police,” the legislator alleged.
He further stated that several members believed to be loyal to Amaechi were physically assaulted, and that many of them had their vehicles vandalised.
“They later reconvened, about five of them, and claimed that they had impeached the Speaker. As we speak, the whereabouts of the Seargent-at-arms remain unknown,” he added.
Another legislator believed to be close to the Minister of state for education, Onyesom Wike, flatly denied the claims that Bipi assaulted the Speaker.
He told Pointblanknews that legislators loyal to Amaechi sparked the crisis when they attempted to stop them from gaining entrance into the Assembly.
“Mr. Speaker in any legislature is only primus inter pares. We were elected legislators much the same way he or anybody was elected. Why would he seek to stop us from entering the Assembly?
“It was the attempt by the former Speaker Amachree and Governor Amaechi to stop us from gaining entrance that sparked the crisis. That was why we had no option than to impeach him as Speaker,” he added.
He claimed that the presence of Governor Amaechi in the Assembly was proof that the governor had been tele-guiding the Assembly, a move he said greatly undermined the independence of the legislature in Rivers State.