*Candidate of acting PDP chairman becomes speaker

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Shortly after Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State declared open the 8th Assembly at Rivers Assembly complex which had been under lock since July 9,2013,the 32 lawmakers today unanimously elected Ikunyi Igbani representing Andoni constituency and Marshall Uwom of Abual Odual constituency as Deputy Speaker.

The election of Igbani as Speaker,confirmed the earlier speculation in political circles that Prince Uche Secondus,the Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, had pushed through his choice against the preference of Evans Bipi by Mrs Patience Jonathan,Wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Evans Bipi: loses out speakership ambition

Evans Bipi representing Ogu/Bolo constituency was the leader of the five anti-ex-Governor Amaechi lawmakers who attempted to impeach former Speaker,Otelemaba Dan Amachree in the last 7th Assembly in the last administration.

For about two years,Mrs Jonathan had been addressing her aide, Evans Bipi, as ‘Speaker’ in public gatherings after the botched impeachment attempt on former Governor Chibuike Amaechi on July 9,2013,giving the impression the Bipi would be compensated with the post of Speaker during the 8th Assembly.

However, against public expectation Ikunyi Igbani, the only nominee for the position of Speaker was unanimously elected by the 32 members, one of them, Josiah Orlu, a member of the All Progressives Congress,representing Eleme Constituency.

Governor Wike had charged the state lawmakers to conduct their affairs within the confines of the law.

The reopening of the House of Assembly and the High Court complex same day had a telling effect on the traffic on Moscow Road,Port Harcourt/Aba road,Forces Avenue as enthusiastic PDP supporters and members of the public thronged the Assembly and Courts in jubilant mood.

The Police command and other security agencies had herculean task controlling the traffic that nevertheless formed gridlock.

In a separate development, Governor Wike conducted some prominent PDP members round Government House, complex showing how the contents, up to mattresses,pillow-cases,bullet proof doors,crested rugs,chairs,electric sockets, were looted by aides of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi. The PDP chairman, Felix Obuah, in a statement later, accused Governor Amaechi pointedly of being responsible for the stripping of the Government house.