15th July, 2013
The national leadership of Accord Party, AP, has thrown its weight behind the National Assembly over its decision to take over functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The party also urged the federal lawmakers to go a step further by commencing impeachment process against President Goodluck Jonathan over his perceived role in the crisis rocking the state.
In a press statement issued by the party and signed by the National Secretary, Dr Samsom Isibor, the party alleged that the intolerance of President Jonathan to opposition voices spelt danger for the nation’s democracy and therefore called on all lovers of democracy to rise against arm-twisting by the Presidency in its bid to secure a second term ticket for Jonathan.
“A situation where 5 minority lawmakers, backed by the Presidency with all federal might, including the police and military, declared that they have impeached the Speaker of the House with majority of 27 members supporting him were tear-gassed and driven out of the House, is unacceptable to Accord Party.
“Accord Party whole-heartedly supports the two resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives on Wednesday: the taking over of functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the call for the immediate redeployment of the State Police Commissioner , Mr Joseph Mbu for his role in the crisis,” the statement added.
The party specifically linked the refusal of President Jonathan to accept the outcome of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum election which Governor Rotimi Amaechi won with 19 votes to the crisis.
The statement said for the country to move forward, the House of Representatives must urgently commence impeachment process against the President for his “mis-governance, non-compliance with the rule of law and overheating the polity because of his intolerance of opposition to his second term ambition.”
—Jethro Ibileke/Benin