By: Felix Ikpotor
The lawmaker representing Port Harcourt constituency 1 in the Rivers State House of Assembly, RVHA, Hon Victoria Nyeche has said she abstained from voting in favour of the approval to suspend 12 Local Government Chairmen in the State because the list was incomplete
PHSpectator recalls that the assembly during it sitting on Tuesday ratified the suspension of the 12 council chairmen where 22 lawmakers voted in favour of the approval while Hon Nyeche abstainedfrom voting.
However, Nyech while speaking with journalists said “though there was nothing wrong with the governor suspending the Local Government Chairmen and writing to the Assembly for ratification, but the reason given for that suspension was security reason and I think that we have very serious security challenges in Obio Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Governments and I did not see the Chairmen of Obio Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government listed on the list of suspended Local Government Chairmen, and I think Obio Akpor and PHALGA is where we have the highest crime rate in the state , so for me that list was not complete and I do not think I should be part, so that was why I actually abstained from voting in favour of that approval” she said.
PHSpectator reports that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in a statement issued by his aide on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu had said the chairmen were suspended for failing to attend important state functions, but however, following several criticism especially on social media changed it to security reasons as reflected in the letter sent to the assembly for ratification.
