The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to suspend operations over the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly.
PENGASSAN’s President Mr Babatunde Ogun, in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday,warned that if politicians cannot conduct themselves in a manner expected of them, the union would not hesitate to withdraw the services of oil workers to ensure their safety.
He said: “The state of fear that pervades Rivers is a threat to the lives and safety of oil and gas workers and the entire industry.”
It said the crisis was an indication that the government may not be able to guarantee security and protect the lives and property of the people.
It condemned the violence in the assembly on Tuesday, describing it as ‘a slap on Nigeria’s democracy and the Constitution.’
The statement said the crisis could lead to a breakdown of law and order that could affect not only the state, but other parts of the country if not nipped in the bud.
The violence, it said, showed that some politicians lacked respect for the Constitution and elementary democratic decorum.
“That is why we would not risk the lives of our members and may have to withdraw them until the situation is under control”, he said.
The statement said it was regrettable to note that those trying to subvert democracy never fought for it.
“Several people, especially labour leaders, died for our democracy to be achieved. Some of us were incarcerated during the struggle to attain this democracy.”
The statement urged all those involved in the crisis to take cognisance of its root causes and pursue peace by reconciling their differences.
A former member of the assembly, Mr. Chidi Amadi, yesterday described as hasty, the House of Representatives resolution on the matter.
The House of Representatives passed a resolution on Wednesday, urging the National Assembly to allow it take over the legislative functions of the Rivers assembly immediately.
Amadi, who represented Obio/Akpor constituency II on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers from 1991 to 1993, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the House of Representatives should have allowed a committee it set up to investigate the crisis first.
He said the lower chamber of the National Assembly should have monitored events in the Rivers assembly before passing the resolution.
”The events at the National Assembly, taking a cue from the first point of departure, the lower house, the House of Representatives, I want to say that the resolution of the House of Representatives was quite disappointing.
“Yes, the lower house of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, has every right to review the happenings in the Rivers State legislature.
“But, not to say that, at the first attempt to look into this issue, a resolution was reached to take over the affairs of the assembly.
“From all that happened, we were aware, we heard on the news – the former speaker of the assembly, Tonye Harry even affirmed that no one was removed and then asked the media to come the following morning that the assembly was going to sit.
“From other members of the assembly, we also heard that the business of the day, which was to pass the motion from the executive arm as per the budget modification was taken,“
Amadi said other members of the assembly assured that the business of the state legislative arm would go on.
He hailed the Senate for exercising restraint on the matter and advised the legislators in the state to calm down and not ignore the issue of governance.
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