The political crisis in the People Democratic Party, Rivers chapter has been moved into the burial of the former speaker of Rivers state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Ezekiel Harry who died in a French hospital on Thursday 3rd October, 2013.
Argument arose between the two factions after the governor announced the state government resolvement to collaborate with the deceased family when he visited the bereaved family last week Thursday.
At the visit, governor Amaechi who were accompany by members of the state executive council and legislature said the late lawmaker would be given a state burial to immortalized him because he demonstrated great leadership and quality service to the state as a politician and a legislator from the period he was his deputy speaker in the 4th and 5th Assembly under the administration of Dr Peter Odili former governor of Rivers state.
Then, Barrister Nyesome Wike, the minister of states for education on his parts said he and his group would give maximum support to make the late lawmaker burial a huge success despite their political differences .
To spice it up, the five anti- Amaechi lawmakers in the state house of Assembly have constituted committee to liaise with the family of the late former speaker.
The committee members which include Hon. Victor Ihunwo as chairman, Dum Deekor a former deputy speaker, Hon Ibinabo Micheal-west, Hon. Jones Ogbonda, Hon. Linda Somiari, Hon. Boma Iyaye and Akponwa is to ensure a hitch –free burial for their departed colleagues.
The five lawmakers led by Hon. Evans Bipi who are loyal to Chief Wike political camp disclosed this shortly after visiting the family of late Tonye Harry.
Hon. Evans Bipi who is also the factional speaker of the House said governor Amaechi and his group move to hijack the burial would not stop them from strongly partaking in the burial arrangement.
Accusing governor Amaechi of trying to hijack the burial in order to be seen as one who stood for the family, Bipi further described the governor demonstration of sadness at the death of Tonye Harry as pretentious.
He said such show of love has never existed during the life time of the lawmaker and recalled how governor Amaechi denied the late lawmaker from continuing as speaker of the house in 7th Assembly because of selfish interest.
