- Members of Rivers state House of Assembly have maintained that there is no disaffection among lawmakers
- They have denied the allegation made by Honourable Martins Mannah that the speaker of the House, Ikunyi Owaji-Ibani, is being intimidated and marginalised
- Sam Ogeh, chairman of the House committee on information and communication, said the allegation was baseless
Alleged intimidation and marginalisation against the speaker of Rivers state House of Assembly, Ikunyi Owaji-Ibani, has been countered by members of the House.
The lawmaker representing Ahoada East constituency I, Honourable Martins Mannah, had raised the alarm that some members were intimidated and denied funds for constituency projects for not being loyal to the speaker, The Sun reports.
NAIJ.com notes that according to Mannah, the lawmakers were also denied training, which has consequently affected their performance and legislation in the state.
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Reacting to the allegations, the chairman of the House committee on information and communication, Sam Ogeh, said the allegations were baseless and unwarranted and urged Mannah to provide evidence of his claim.
Ogeh said that no funds for constituency projects were withheld as alleged by the lawmaker, adding that several constituency projects by the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration are ongoing across the state, including Ahoada East
He said: “Mannah has the right to associate himself with any political party he desires. The Eighth Assembly is not in any way under any form of intimidation. The House freely conducts its legislative business. The House is intact and not hungry. This allegations shows his motive as he has demonstrated."
He maintained that there was no disaffection among lawmakers, adding that the issues would be addressed when the Assembly returns from recess.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Martins Mannah, a member of the Rivers state House of Assembly, representing Ahoada east constituency I, who was elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Once a solid ally of Governor Nyesom Wike during the 2015 elections, Minnah opened up on alleged intimidation and bad welfare management by the speaker of the House and the governor.
APC is the worst party in Nigeria, I regret being a member - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng