We’re Not Amaechi’s Rubber Stamp – Rivers Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Leyii Kwanee, has dismissed claims in some quarters that members of the House are rubber stamp to the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Kwanee explained that though members of the House enjoyed a cordial relationship with the state governor to the benefit of the state, it did not mean that they endorsed every opinion or demand of the governor.

The deputy speaker, who represents Khana Constituency 2 in the House, explained that the lawmakers and the governor worked with understanding and cooperation in the interest of the people.

The lawmaker was reacting to a statement credited to the Senate President, David Mark, that most state Houses of Assembly were stooges to the executive.

Kwanee, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, pointed out that he had come to realise that the legislature was superior to the executive and the judiciary.

"What you are seeing now is in furtherance of ensuring that history remembers us. The legislative arm of the government is very critical to the country. I listened to Mr. Senate President when he said that most of the lawmakers have become stooges to the executive.

"But in Rivers State, we tried our best for the state. Though we maintained a good relationship and cooperation with the executive in the interest of the state, it does not mean that we are a rubber stamp to the executive.

"From my little experience, I have come to the conclusion that the legislature is more superior to the other two arms of government. They check other arms of government, but they are not being checked.

"So, we need to ensure that only our best represents us in the House of Assembly. For our democracy to survive, we need to check those going into the business of lawmaking," he said.

Kwanee pointed out that the recent move by the lawmakers to investigate the economy of the state by summoning some state commissioners was an indication that the House of Assembly was a vibrant one.

The deputy speaker said he had maintained a cordial relationship with the anti-Amaechi lawmakers, adding that as lawmakers, "we treat one another as brothers and not as politicians."

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