The Elected Female Local Government Executives And Legislators Forum in Rivers State has sued for peace in Rivers State. The group made the remark in a press conference organized in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
Addressing the press at the occasion the chairman of Ogu/Bolo LGA Hon. Maureen Tamuno stated that the female legislatures in the state are disturbed by the unfortunate happening which has adversely affected the economic activities, thereby jeopardizing and undermining the peace and security in the state.
The Ogu/Bolo boss expressed the dissatisfaction of the female politicians with behaviour of few selfish individuals, which she said was threatening our hard earned nascent democracy.
Hon. Tamuno said the anti-democratic action of the few individuals in the House of Assembly has undermined and destabilized the government of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
She maintained that the act displayed on the 9th of July 2013 where five members attempted to impeach the speaker that has the support of twenty-seven honourable members in the House of Assembly was regrettable.
The Forum Leader condemned the act in strong terms, saying politics should not be a matter of desperation, a do or die affair, but a platform to offer service to the people.
The Ogu/Bolo council boss and chairperson of the forum used the opportunity to seek for transparent and credible election come 2015. The female politicians in Rivers State also condemned the statement credited to Elder statesmen Chief Edwin Clark, criticizing the Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.
They appealed to the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who is also a Niger Delta person to intervene with the support of the National Assembly in the Rivers crisis to bring an lasting peace in the state. She called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately transfer the Rivers State commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu
The group condemned the manner in which Hon. Chidi Lloyd was being treated by the police.
The elected female executives and Legislators Forum said it supports the laudable projects, good governance and transparency of the governor. They listed some of the projects of Governor Amaechi to include health, education, infrastructure and overseas scholarship and building roads, among others.
Fielding questions from journalists on why it took them long to come up with this position, Tamuno said they have been trying to mediate at individual levels and in group.
On solution to the current political crisis, the Deputy Mayor of Port Harcourt City LGA, Hon. Nancy Stephens-Ijaopo said that the transfer of the Commissioner of Police will help the crisis in a way.
When asked whether they have sought audience with the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, they said they will write her immediately.
On the issue of their position on early girl child marriage, the Vice Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) LGA, Hon. Ego Paula Ahiakwo (JP) stated that they disagreed with the position of early girl child marriage, because of its implication, as it denies the girl the right to education at the tender age, where she supposed to be in school, they said it also affects her mental ability and can lead to complication during child bearing, while calling on the national Assembly to reverse the trend.
Other members of the group are Hon. Nweke Lucy Ngozi, Vice- Chairman Omuma and Hon. Sonye A. Onyesoh, Vice chairman Etche LGA. ###
Pius Dukor
