The Futility of Chasing Shadows: 26 Rivers Legislators’ Shameful Attempt to Evade Consequences

The Futility of Chasing Shadows: 26 Rivers Legislators’ Shameful Attempt to Evade Consequences

By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo

In a shocking display of political opportunism, twenty-six legislators from the Rivers State House of Assembly recently defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This undignified move, driven by a power struggle between former Governor Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara, reveals the extent to which some politicians are willing to disregard the principles of democracy for their own gain. However, their futile attempts to avoid the consequences of their actions, including seeking legal remedies and restraining orders, only serve to highlight their desperate plight and disregard for the rule of law.

A Betrayal of Trust:

Elected officials have a profound responsibility to represent and protect the interests of their constituents. However, the actions of these twenty-six legislators demonstrate a complete disregard for the trust placed in them by the people who elected them. By defecting from their original party to secure personal advantages, they have betrayed the very essence of democracy and shown their willingness to abandon their duties for political expediency.

A Clear Violation of the Law:

The law is unequivocal: once an elected official defects from their party, they automatically forfeit their seat in the legislature. This legal provision exists precisely to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and party loyalty within our political system. By blatantly flouting this law, these twenty-six legislators are not only demonstrating a lack of ethical integrity but are also setting a dangerous precedent that undermines the stability and fairness of our democracy.

Manipulating the Legal System:

Faced with the repercussions of their actions, the defectors have resorted to desperate measures to cling onto their positions. Their petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requesting fresh elections is a feeble attempt to manipulate legal procedures to their advantage. Likewise, securing a restraining order from Justice Donatus Okorowo seems like a desperate bid to evade accountability. However, their pursuit of legal loopholes and restraining orders only serves to highlight their disregard for the spirit and intent of the law, and their failure to comprehend that justice will inevitably prevail.

Chasing Shadows and Concealing Truths:

Despite their efforts to cloak their actions in a smokescreen of legality, these legislators are merely chasing shadows. Their attempts to retain their seats by seeking fresh elections or restraining orders are futile exercises that ultimately serve to highlight their desperation. The truth is clear and unambiguous: they have violated the law, betrayed their constituents, and undermined the very foundation of democratic governance. No legal maneuvering can alter these facts.

A Call for Accountability:

Rivers State deserves representatives who prioritize the public’s welfare and uphold the principles of democracy, not legislators who prioritize personal gain above their duty to serve. It is imperative that the judiciary upholds the law and ensures that these defectors face the consequences of their actions. Failure to do so would not only undermine the legitimacy of our political system but also set a dangerous precedent for future opportunistic politicians.

Sadly for these 26 legislators, they have been used as pawns in the power game. I don’t see how they can return as legislators even if their new party nominates them. They belong to PDP strongholds and others are already in line to take their place. Perhaps they will learn the lesson if there is a next time for them. But at least they now know that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. May we not be the grass that elephants trample on. A huge lesson for another day.

By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo ( The StoryTeller)
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