By Christiana Ekpa
The Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) has taunted former factional Speaker and Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s loyalist, Hon Edison Ehie as an imposter who never led the House in the so-called Speakership capacity.
This latest development comes on the heels of Ehie’s decision to resign his position as both the Speaker and member representing Ahaoda East Constituency II in the State Assembly.
Clearly taunting Ehie over his decision to call it quit as a Rivers State lawmaker, the Assembly, through its Clerk, Emeka Amadi, maintained that never anytime was he (Ehie) ever elected as Speaker of the House and cannot therefore claimed to have resigned from an office he was not privileged to occupy.
In a press statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday the Clerk said; “The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to a letter dated 29 December, 2023, addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and circulating in the media. It was purportedly written and signed by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie DSSRS, member representing Ahoada East Constituency II in the Rivers State of Assembly wherein he claimed to have resigned from the position of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an office he never occupied.
“I am therefore directed to call on the good people of Rivers State to disregard the false claim in this letter that is intended to mislead the unsuspecting public. Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie DSSRS was never at any time in the life of the Rivers State House of Assembly elected a Speaker.
“The Office of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly is a creation of the 1999 Constitution (As altered) and should not be ridiculed by any member who swore to preserve it and abide by the Constitution.
“As a matter of fact, on Monday, the 5th day of June, 2023, after the proclamation of the 10 Rivers State House of Assembly by the Governor, and in line with Section 92 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (As altered), I, as the then Acting Clerk of the House, conducted the election that produced Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, DSSRS, as the Speaker of the 10 Rivers State House of Assembly by the unanimous votes of all other thirty-one (31) members sitting and present.”
“It is also imperative to state that, from the 5th day of June, 2023, when he was elected till today, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS, has been performing his duties as the Speaker.”
