C’River gov intervenes in Assembly crisis; impeached speaker reinstated

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has intervened in the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly, reuniting the members, after which the impeached speaker was reinstated.

Recall that last week, when the governor was out of the country, 17 lawmakers levelled allegations of financial mismanagement, ineptitude, and selfishness against the speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, impeached him, and took away the mace.

This led to an impasse in legislative business for the rest of the week.

But the governor, upon his return to the state, held a close-door meeting with the lawmakers, where he reminded the Speaker that he is only first among equals and called for a truce between the 17 aggrieved legislators.

In a statement signed by Gill Nsa, his chief press secretary, the governor restated his commitment to constitutional democracy, separation of power, and the rule of law, where due process should be the order of the day.