In view of the violent action by some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the counter reaction by other parties, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has threatened to withdraw its members if the politicians could not conduct themselves in a manner expected of their status.
The state of fear that pervades the state is a threat to the lives and safety of oil and gas workers and the entire industry, PENGASSAN said on Thursday.
Condemning the violent actions of the politicians, the oil workers’ union described the fracas as a slap on Nigeria’s democracy and the constitution, which could lead to breakdown of law and order that will affect not only the state but spread to other parts of the country if not nipped in the bud early.
Reacting to the mayhem in the Rivers State legislative house, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, said the violent action showed that political leaders in the country lack respect for the constitution and lack elementary democratic decorum.
Ogun said: “The events in the recent time are strong indications that the government may not be able to guarantee the security and protection of lives and properties of our people. In that wise, we cannot continue to risk the lives of our members and may have to withdraw them until when the situation is under control.
“The action of the Rivers State legislators and other actors in the crisis has shown that our political leaders have no respect for rules, regulations and lawas provided in the nation’s constitution. There are rules governing proceedings of our legislative house, either at the federal or state level, and these rules are entrenched in the constitution.”
Comrade Ogun stated that the actions of all parties in the crises have shown that political leaders only sought offices for their personal interest but not to protect public interest, adding that public interest supersede and superior to individual personality and motive.
He noted that those trying to subvert the nascent democracy are some of those who never fought for it, adding: “Many people, especially labour leaders, laid down their lives for this democracy to be in place. Many of us were incarcerated during the struggle to attain this democracy.”
The union president urged all parties and individuals involved in the fracas to pursue the path of peace and reconcile their differences, adding that they should take cognisance of the root causes of the North Africa and Middle East crises.
“If we dismiss the events in Rivers State, then we should know that what happened in North Africa, especially Egypt and Libya, can equally come to play in Rivers and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
Comrade Ogun, who commended the quick intervention of the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives for making moves to take over the legislative responsibilities of the Rivers State House of Assembly, said that the Federal legislators should not only stop at this but should embark on steps to restore peace in Rivers State.
“The National Assembly should embark on process to quickly restore enduring peace to the state and its residents,” he stated.
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