Police tear-gas Rivers lawmakers

Armed Policemen, yesterday, barricaded the two ends of Moscow Road leading to the state House of Assembly, thus preventing the pro-Governor Chibuike Amaechi lawmakers from reconvening the House. It would be recalled that a Federal High Court, Abuja, Wednesday, declared as illegal, the take-over of the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the House of Representatives. Following the court ruling, the 22 pro-Governor Amaechi’s lawmakers, therefore, gathered at the House of Assembly to resume sitting. But as early as 8.30 a.m. Police patrol vehicles were used to block the two ends of the road leading to the Assembly. Staff of the NNPC and other establishments whose offices were in the area were only allowed into their offices after their identities were confirmed by fierced looking anti-riot Policemen. Police Barricade Rivers House of Assembly Entrance 11 Lawmakers and supporters running away from tear gas shot by the Police yesterday to scare them away. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke Police Barricade Rivers House of Assembly Entrance 11 Lawmakers and supporters running away from tear gas shot by the Police yesterday to scare them away. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke An Armoured Personnel Career, APC, and two Police patrol vehicles were also used to block the entry and exit gates of the state House of Assembly complex. Nobody was allowed into the complex. Journalists who were able to sneak through the gate of the Assembly complex were ordered to go back.

At about 9.30 a.m, the Police suddenly stopped even workers from entering the Moscow Road as some of the Policemen were seen clutching their walk-talkie to their ears, apparently taking and dishing out instructions. At about 9.55 a.m, a Coaster bus conveying the pro-Amaechi lawmakers were stopped by the Police at the Port Harcourt City Council end of the road. The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr Tony Okocha and Commissioner for Works, Mr Victor Giadom were among those stopped by the Police from proceeding beyond the Port HarcourtCity council end of the road. Pleas by the lawmakers to be allowed beyond this point or to the state House of Assembly fell on deaf ears. The Policemen kept saying they were acting on instructions not to allow anyone go beyond the point or into the Assembly complex. When it became clear that the Police would not allow them into the complex, the pro-Amaechi lawmakers, who were about 22, suddenly commenced a mock sitting on the Moscow Road with the Deputy Speaker, Leyii Kwanee presiding. White plastic chairs were fetched for them from the Port HarcourtCity council local government secretariat. They took turns to denounce the action of the Police. Mid way into their deliberations, the Police started firing teargas, a development that made the lawmakers and onlookers to scamper for safety. A Man Injured while ruining from the scene of the crisis Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke A Man Injured while ruining from the scene of the crisis Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke Police kept firing canisters of teargas to ensure they did not regroup in the area. Some youths who had also turned up early to witness the sitting of the Assembly started hurling stones from a distance. It was not clear if their targets were the Policemen but their action triggered the Police to fire more canisters of teargas. Contacted, leader of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers, Hon. Evans Bipi, said he was the Speaker of the House, adding that when he was ready to reconvene the House he would let Rivers people know. Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha, has called on the Police in the state to be professional while discharging their duties. Condemning the refusal of the Police to allow the pro-Amaechi lawmakers access to the state Assembly complex to resume legislative functions, Okocha said it was sad that the security body resorted to firing canisters of teargas at the lawmakers who were merely responding to a court judgment which restored the functions of the Assembly to the state lawmakers.