Gale Of Defections In State Assemblies Dangerous For Democracy – Okonkwo

Advises 27 Rivers Lawmakers To Resign

THE 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, elected under the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) that chose to defect to the All Progressives Party ( APC), have been advised to respectfully hang their gloves as members of the assembly, and pursue their new love in APC as ordinary members of the party.

Member representing Idemili North and South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Uche Harris Okonkwo, who made the call in a brief chat with newsmen, stated, “th e poor script emanating from the defected former Rivers State Assembly members” is a grievous new level of assault on the integrity of the nation’s democracy and operational sanctity of its constitution.

His words: “Let’s be clear about this. I am neither a member of the PDP nor APC, so, I can’t be beneficiary or loser in this dog fight for supremacy in Rivers State. But as a lawmaker just as they were before defection, I feel personally scandalised that the solemn institution of the legislature is being so defaced and abused in a manner close to the gutter of impunity.

“The intent of the law is always clear from the letters of it, and never endorsed that less than a year of swearing an oath to defend the constitution as members of the hallowed legislature of your state, you can carry the trophy of the party that gave you their ticket to donate to another party arbitrarily and selfishly without consequences.

“Honour should have supremacy over bravado, and politicians should stop increasing the poverty of honour in the corridors of politics and leadership if we truly wish this country well.