*I still remain the authentic speaker, Isenah insists
By Victor Edighomor & Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Pandemonium as the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Isenah has been impeached without the mace, the authority of the assembly amidst controversies.
It was gathered that, the speaker was impeached without the mace by majority members who are alleged members loyal to Gov. Dickson.
Against the backdrop of alleged planned impeachment of the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Tonye Emmanuel Isenah, lawmakers – both those loyal to the Speaker and those loyal to Governor Seriake Dickson, have deserted the assembly solely to forestall crisis that may arise from their actions.
Isenah, who was elected on June as the speaker of the state assembly, has been under intense pressure from Governor Dickson to resign his position or face impeachment to pave way for a lawmaker from Southern Ijaw local government to take over, in order to help his party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), win the Southern Ijaw local government area.
Investigations revealed that the speaker was impeached over pressure mounted on him by leadership of PDP to balance political equation ahead of the November 16 general election in the State.
It was also alleged that the Speaker, who is a critical member of Governor Dickson’s led restoration caucus of the Bayelsa PDP, the family that produced the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Douye Diri, had last month refused the directive to commence impeachment process on the deputy governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (Rtd) and that was when his predicament started .
Emmanuel Isenah, who is representing Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 2 in the state assembly was said to held a meeting with staff of the assembly announcing his relinquision of the speakership, adding that he thanked them for having a close working relationship with him.
There are 23 members currently in the house out of which 18 of them voted for the speaker’s impeachment on Monday at the lowered chamber of the assembly.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the speaker was removed to balance the political power equation in the state, since the candidate of people democratic party (PDP) Sen.Douye Diri happens to hail from the same local government area with the speaker.
However, member representing southern Ijaw Constituency 2 in the House, Hon. Monday Bubou Edwin Obolo has emerged as the new Speaker.
The Bayelsa State House of Assembly is made up of 18 PDP members and 4 APC members.
Meanwhile the alleged impeached speaker, Hon.Tonye Isenah insists he remains the speaker of the House after successfully presided over the plenary and announced recess for the assembly.
Isenah, who was said to have succumbed to Governor Seriake Dickson’s directive to resign his position today, said he successfully presided over the sitting and announced the recess for the assembly, and was escorted out by Sergeant of Arm, adding that any member who sit back to do anything is on illegal duty.
He said: “I went to the house, all members entered the chambers for our sitting, after addressing the house, as the precising officer, I announced the recess, so the house is on recess.
“In the house that is adjourned, nothing is to be done in that house until we reconvene again, I presided over the house as a Speaker, I did not preside as impeached Speaker or Speaker that resigned, I presided as authentic speaker of the house and I’ve adjourned the house.
“Anything that happen in that house without me reconvening the house is illegal, and its remain illegality, that is what I want all Bayelsans and Nigerians to know, constitutionally, legislature is an independent arm of government, and that arm need to be respected and the ideal of separation of power need to be respected, that house has been adjourned.
“Nobody can reconvene that house except me, but if anybody sit to do anything, its an illegality, I’m not a violence person.
“I never had any arrangement with anybody to resign after three months as a Speaker, at approximate time, I will address Bayelsans and tell them what transpired, I never had an arrangement to resign with anybody, if there was such agreement, they should bring document about that.” He said.
As at time of filling in the report, security agencies have blocked all major entrance to the assembly complex.
