By Joy Ude
Vanguard for transparent leadership and democracy,has called on National Assembly to urgently invoke doctrine of necessity to save Rivers state from actual breakdown of law and order.
Engr.Igbini Emmanuel, the National President of the group on Saturday disclosed this to journalists in Port Harcourt.
Emmanuel said that the group expressed great worry ahead of the expected end of the three years tenure of the Rivers 23 local government council Chairmen that suposed to end on June, 17.
The group said there is confirmed heightening political tension between supporters of the governor and those of his predecessor
He said that the tension if not urgently and decisively addressed would lead to threat to Peace, actual breakdown of law and public order across the state.
“It is sadly and undeniable fact that the state is right now facing grave and imminent danger with both opposing political groups gearing for full blown war on June 17th and days after, for the takeover and control of administration of the local government councils.
“It is also an established fact that as a result of conflicting judgments of courts and pending law suits relating to determination of lawful members and leadership of the State House of Assembly.
“There exist no legislative organ of government carrying out the constitutional duty of making laws for peace, order and good government of the state as stipulated by section 4(6) of 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended.
“We are all aware that majority of the incumbent chairmen of the local government councils have publicly vowed never to exit their positions on June 17, 2024 on the ground that the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule had amended the state LGA law mandating the chairmen to continue on their positions if LGA election is not conducted,”the group said.
Emmanuel explained that the above scenarios clearly established the undeniable fact that Rivers state is facing grave and actual danger, adding that the peace, security and well-being of the people of Rivers may not be guaranteed.
“In view of the fact that the Doctrine of Necessity is globally accepted extraordinary action taken by any relevant organ of government to prevent breakdown of or restore Order or uphold fundamental constitutional principles,
“We therefore call on the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to immediately or urgently invoke the Doctrine of Necessity in Rivers with a view to preventing the pending actual breakdown of law and order and to uphold fundamental constitutional principles in Rivers until such time the state Assembly is able to resume its functions.
“It is instructive for us to state that by the express provisions of sections 4 and 11(4) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, the National Assembly has the constitutional power to make laws for the peace, order.
“And good government of the Federation or any part thereof and for any state at any time when the House of Assembly is unable to perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that state,”the group said.
The group recommends the constitution of not more than a 5-member Interim Management Team for each of the local government councils made up of only men and women drawn from the academia, judiciary, religious groups,
Including professional bodies and non-governmental organizations who must be indigenes of the respective local government areas and who are not members of any political party in Nigeria and not known to be supporters or close associates of the governor or his predecessor.
The group also suggested that the Interim Management Committees are to administer the local government councils for not more than three months during which period local government elections should be conducted and supervised by Independent National Electoral Commission Officials.
