By Kolawole Ojebisi
There was a shouting match on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday following the approval of a non-indegene, Dr. Michael Odey as the Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC)
Odey and other members of the commission were confirmed following the onsideration of the report of the Ad- Hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers State presented by its chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central).
The man confirmed to be at the helm of RSIEC hails from Cross River, another state in the South-south region which is also the state of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas
However, the development did not sit well with some lawmakers who took turns to expressed their objection.
Taking the floor to register his disapproval of the confirmation was Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central) who stated that allowing a non-indegene to preside over the electoral body of Rivers will set a bad precedent.
He said: “I objected as observed because if it is allowed and becomes the norm, it will not be well for the country.
“I do not see the necessity of having someone from another state to chair an electoral body.”
While kicking against the approval, former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, (APC Borno South), stated that it’s an insult to the thousands of qualified Rivers indigenes to scout for a non-indegene for such sensitive position when there are over one thousand indigenes who are qualified.
Referring to a comment by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), said politics was infused into the matter.
“It is here that politics is brought into this matter. Nobody is objecting to the personality but to a question of morality this appointment has raised.
“I am not a lawyer and not talking law, we are talking about ethics. This is unethical. We should not intrude politics into what we do here,” Moro said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), supported Odey’s confirmation, arguing that that there is nothing wrong in the Red Chamber’s decision which he described as “constitutional”.
He said: “The constitution is the ground norm and inasmuch as there is no provision in the constitution that is against appointing a non-indigene, the confirmation is then in order.
“Any Nigerian is free to take up appointment in any state. I can be a governor in Benue State. We are talking about constitution, not morality.”
In his own contribution, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele urged his fellow legislators not to politicize the matter, saying “The matter does not call for grandstanding.”
He argued that Odey is both eligible and qualified as a PhD holder.
He said the Odey is eligible and qualified, adding that having the six other members from Rivers State, picking a non-indigene as chairman would create room for transparency and neutrality.
Dismissing earlier objections raised, the Deputy Senate President, Barau, who presided over the session, insisted that anybody can work anywhere in Nigeria.
Barau cited an example of an indigene of Edo State who is the Head of Service in Abia State.
He said the objection “is purely politics because it is coming from APC”.
Those confirmed as members of the RSIEC are Mr. Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof. Author Nwafor, Prof. Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha, Prof. Joyce Akaninwor, Dr. Olive A. Bruce and Prof. Chidi Halliday.
In the same development, the Senate also confirmed the appointment of members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission and Local Government Service Commission nominated by President Bola Tinubu.
The Civil Service Commission consists of five members, including its Chairman, Dr Livinus Bariki, and Ambassador Lot Peter Egopija, Mrs Maeve Ere Bestman, Mrs Joy Obiaju and Mrs Charity Lloyd Harry as members.
Also confirmed are the chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr Isreal N Amadi and Mr Linus Nwandem, Lady Christabel Ego, George Didia, Dr Tonye Willie D Pepple, Barrister Richard Ewoh, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (rtd) and Dr Sammy Apiafi, as members.
