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… l Remain Speaker, Isenah Insists
By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
Hon Monday Obolo Bubou, member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency II, has taken over as speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly following the impeachment of Rt Hon Tonye Emmanuel Isenah.
Isenah, who spoke via telephone, however insists he remains the speaker and asked Bayelsans to discountenance the said impeachment.
He said: “After election, all Houses had gone on recess. The National Assembly had also gone on recess, we have not gone. So at today (Monday) plenary, I presided over the recess, and thanked everybody, and I adjourned the House sine die, and we have gone on recess.
“If the House has adjourned sine die, nothing is to be done again. I presided as a Speaker of the House, and I have adjourned the House sine die. Anything that happens in the House without me reconvening the House is illegal.
“That is an institution. It’s a different arm of government. The House needs to be respected, the ideal separation of power have to be respected. The House has been adjourned, anything again is illegal. They escorted me out of the chamber, nobody can reconvene that House except me. If anybody sits to do anything it’s an illegality,” he said.
Speaking on the claim that he earlier promised to resign after three months, Isenah said: “I never had any arrangement with anybody. At the appropriate time I will address Bayelsans and tell them what transpired. I never had an arrangement that I’m going to resign after three months. Let them show me the document to that effect, if there were any agreement, let them show me the paper.
“I want Bayelsans to note that Bayelsa State House of Assembly is an independent arm of government, and I was elected Speaker. I think if I have not done anything wrong, I don’t see any reason why I should be asked to resign.
“I’ve not resigned, I’m not resigning. I’ve adjourned the house sine die. Bayelsans should discountenance anything like that.
Recalled that Tonye Isenah had earlier agreed to resign on Monday during plenary, only to renege and forcefully escape from the chamber with the mace. A short while after he left, there were sporadic shooting, coupled with invasion of the premises by hoodlums.
The situation led journalists to scamper for safety.
Isenah was elected in June, making him the speaker with the shortest tenure in the annals of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
