Member representing Abua/Odual/ Ahead East Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) said on Wednesday that the spokesman of the Opposition Lawmakers in the House, Ikenga Ugochinyere cannot speak for and on behalf of the people of Rivers State.
Addressing journalists in Abuja Wednesday, Rep Bob accused Ugochinyere of speaking for the Rivers people when he is not an indigene of the state.
According to him, Ugochinyere is operating outside his legal and legislative boundaries, constantly abandoning his constituency to speak on issues affecting Rivers State, leading to heating up of the political atmosphere in the state.
The Rivers lawmaker said even though Ugochinyere is a federal lawmaker, he has no right to join issues affecting Rivers State, adding that only Lawmakers from the state who are aware of the issues can understand and make informed contributions to the State matters.
He accused the Imo born rep member Ugochinyere, of carrying out activities in the House inimical to best legislative practices, and alleged that he is being used by a Rivers son to perpetuate the illegality he is perpetuating.
He said rather than concentrate so much attention on the issues in Rivers, Ugochinyere should pay more attention to developments in Imo state, frought with general insecurity and forced sit-ins where children, traders and workers cannot go to about their lawful duties on Mondays.
He said Ugochinyere lacked the capacity to engage in the lawmaking, saying “I’ve not seen him engage in any lobbying activity in the House of Representatives. He’s been here for a year plus now”.
“Sections 49 and 72 of the Constitution tells you clearly that no federal constituency or state territories and by implication, you cannot speak for any place other than where you represents.
“I have tried to put these issues before the House leadership, to call them to order. We, as a caucus have written to the leadership and to the Speaker in particular specifically, to take action on this.
He also questioned Ugochinyere’s rise to becoming the chairman of a major committee (Petroleum Upstream) in the House as a first timer, and asked the Speaker to remove him as chairman of a standing Committee of the House.
