The Rivers State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN has accused the state Assembly of not recording any remarkable achievement since inauguration.
In a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, the party while assessing the activities and achievements of the 32 man legislative body in the past one year, said the Assembly has failed to live up to its responsibilities.
The ACN said it takes exception to a supposed mouthpiece of the people stripping themselves of all legitimate responsibilities for a pot of porridge, regretting that apart from serving as a mere rubber stamp for the executive arm of government, the present crop of legislators under the leadership of Speaker Otelemba Dan Amachree, has only succeeded in institutionalizing corruption in the State.
The ACN lamented the lawmakers’ strong penchant to cover up frauds as evident in several probes and investigations by the House which up to date never saw the light of the day.
Rather than come up with laws which will improve the welfare of the people, the lawmakers have left the State worse than they met it,†the ACN regretted.
Jerry Needam cited that of Ahoada East local government area as one such example where the Council Chairman allegedly bribed the House Committee members investigating his matter to bury the report.
Under one year alone, the ACN Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam said the House members have acquired lands and built houses in choice areas in Port Harcourt, all at the expense of the State economy.
The party further alleged that the lawmakers make noise on the floor of the House as ploy to intimidate their prey; mostly companies and corporate individuals to extort money from them.
The party however noted the noble contributions of a few members of the House who through their actions and outcry played an appreciable role in the House and impacted positively on the State generally.
These, according to Mr Jerry Needam include the House Deputy Speaker, Leyii Kwanee, the House Leader, Chidi Lloyd, Onari Brown, Golden Chioma, Legborsi Nwidaadah and a few others, who have shown some commitment to their duties, by living above board.
The ACN Spokesman advised that the lawmakers should as a matter of urgent public importance retrace their steps and concentrate on their legislative businesses and oversight functions rather than writing letters to companies, parastatals and boards demanding for contracts and money the failure of which they often embark on make-shift investigations as though they are doing so in the interest of the State.