Rivers Assembly Fracas: Soyinka, Falana Slam Jonathan

Femi Falana (l) and Prof. Wole Soyinka at the conference

Femi Falana (l) and Prof. Wole Soyinka at the conference

As the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly degenerated with the removal of soldiers guarding Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and Femi Falana this morning criticised President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the matter.

Addressing a press conference this morning, both of them agreed that the country had passed this road before and is not what the country should be doing now.

Femi Falana (l) and Prof. Wole Soyinka at the conference
Femi Falana (l) and Prof. Wole Soyinka at the conference

Soyinka said: “I’m insulted by what is going on in Rivers State. We have been through this before. Why is the Presidency boring us. There are serious issues confronting us.

“This is the time the president should be mobilizing the entire country for positive things. This is the time the President should worry about how to protect our little children being murdered in their schools.

“Instead, he’s busy reducing the authority of an elected governor in Rivers State.”

He asked rhetorically: “will no one rid me of this pestilence?”

He also condemned Jonathan, saying his silence and indifference have created an enabling environment for his followers who are acting in Rivers State with impunity.

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In his own comment, Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana cited various sections of the constitution which condemn what is going on in Rivers State.

He said an elected Speaker of the House of Assembly can only be removed by 2/3 majority of members of the House.

Falana explained that the Supreme court made it clear that any business conducted outside of the legislature can’t stand. He cited the cases of Plateau and Oyo states to buttress his point.

He said what is going on in Rivers State is absurd and odious. According to him, the silence of the President wherever he may be is a confirmation of what is going in Rivers State.

He then called on the Inspector General of Police to remove the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Joseph Mbu, who has violated the code of conduct of the police.

He insisted the officers should be removed, not transferred.

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