The Rivers State Home of Meeting yesterday declined to verify 4 out of the 9 commissioner-nominees forwarded to it by Governor Siminalayi Fubara after hours of rigorous screening that uncovered political tensions, petitions and documentation controversies. The nominees have been subjected to inten…
The Rivers State Home of Meeting yesterday declined to verify 4 out of the 9 commissioner-nominees forwarded to it by Governor Siminalayi Fubara after hours of rigorous screening that uncovered political tensions, petitions and documentation controversies.
The nominees have been subjected to intense questioning throughout a session held on the Meeting’s chamber inside the legislative quarters alongside Aba Highway in Port Harcourt and broadcast reside on tv.
On the finish of the train, the lawmakers cleared 5 nominees for appointment into the state government council whereas 4 others didn’t safe legislative approval.
These confirmed embody Mr Tonye Bellgam, Prof Temple Nwofor, Dr Peters Nwagor, Mr Lekue Kenneth and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
Nonetheless, Datonye Alaska, TKD Amachree, Charity Demua and Tamuno Williams have been rejected after what the lawmakers described as unsatisfactory efficiency and unresolved controversies surrounding their profiles.
Political observers interpreted the end result as a mirrored image of the lingering energy tussle within the state, suggesting that the listing could have been compiled with out ample session between the chief, the legislature and different political stakeholders.
The roles allegedly performed by a number of the nominees throughout the political disaster that rocked the state additionally appeared to affect the selections of the lawmakers.
READ ALSO: Rivers Assembly Confirms Five Commissioner Nominees, Rejects Four
One of the dramatic moments of the screening occurred throughout the look of Tamuno Williams, a lawyer and former chairman of Okrika Native Authorities Space, who is thought to be a vocal supporter of Governor Fubara.
Williams got here beneath scrutiny over feedback he allegedly made within the media criticising the Meeting throughout the disaster.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule confronted him over his public positions on authorized points referring to the Meeting.
“Are you saying that there has not been any posts by you thru the digital or print media?
“Excuse me, hear, he’s saying that you’ve got been engaged in such dialog within the media towards this August Meeting and you’ve got taken positions in issues of regulation, which on the finish of the day you have been improper due to the judgment of the court docket. The place you took or stood for within the media towards this august meeting turned out that you just have been improper as a result of the court docket dominated that you just have been improper. Is it the scenario, sure or no,” the speaker requested.
Williams tried to defend himself, arguing that differing opinions have been widespread in authorized discourse, however declined to provide a direct reply to the query.
“Mr Speaker I can’t argue with this Home,” he stated.
Amaewhule then responded: “So, you agreed that you just misled the general public.You possibly can take your seat Mr Tamuno . You’ve got answered the query”.
One other nominee, TKD Amachree, additionally a lawyer from the Kalabari axis, confronted problem throughout his screening after the Home Committee on Info and Public Petitions disclosed that a number of complaints had been filed towards him.
Chairman of the committee, Dr Enemi George, advised the lawmakers that about 11 petitions have been initially submitted towards Amachree over alleged involvement in group disputes.
He later knowledgeable the Home that contemporary petitions had elevated the quantity to greater than 15, prompting the lawmakers to unanimously stand down his nomination.
The rejection of Datonye Alaska additionally attracted consideration. The medical scholar, a professor of medication, former chairman of the Nigerian Medical Affiliation and Deputy Chief Medical Director of the College of Port Harcourt Educating Hospital, was criticised by lawmakers over inconsistencies in his paperwork.
In the course of the screening, questions have been raised about alleged mutilation of the date on his beginning certificates and discrepancies within the names showing on a few of his certificates.
Charity Demua, the one feminine nominee, additionally didn’t persuade the lawmakers throughout the train.
She admitted that she had not paid tax since 2018.
When requested why she had no tax clearance certificates, she replied: “ I’m a politician. I didn’t have work.”
Her response reportedly surprised members of the Home, with the speaker asking whether or not she meant that politicians have been exempted from paying taxes.
All through the screening session, lawmakers raised points referring to educational {qualifications}, work historical past, tax compliance and petitions. One of many nominees was even requested to recite the second stanza of the nationwide anthem.
On the finish of the train, Amaewhule counseled members of the Home for what he described as diligent discharge of their constitutional duties.
“We now have 9 nominees forwarded to this Meeting by the governor. On the finish of this screening, the Home has confirmed 5 of them. However the Home had chosen to take a deep breath on 4 of them following their poor efficiency and controversies surrounding their paperwork,” he stated.
“They haven’t been in a position to present this Meeting that they’re certainly ready to serve Rivers State or that they’re in a position. We really feel that they aren’t sq. pegs in sq. holes for the workplaces they intend to occupy on the Rivers State Government Council”.
The speaker stated the resolutions of the Home could be transmitted to the governor for additional motion.
“The governor ought to go forward and swear within the 5 nominees however he mustn’t swear within the different 4 that weren’t cleared,” he added.
