Feuding members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in South-South Nigeria have temporarily been rendered idle by the country’s lower parliament, which today voted to take over their functions.

The decision by the House of Representatives followed yesterday’s show of shame at the Rivers State House of Assembly, in which the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, was at risk of losing his life after factional Speaker Evans Babakaya Bipialaka ordered him shot. The tragedy was however averted as the thugs and policemen given the order could not summon the courage to carry it out.

Amaechi had rushed down to the House of Assembly Complex with a view to brokering peace after getting a report that the lawmakers had engaged in a physical combat following an attempt by Bipialaka and four other lawmakers opposed to the governor to forcibly remove the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan-Amachree.

In the ensuing commotion Speaker Amachree, House Leader Chidi Lloyd and some other lawmakers were injured and had to seek medical attention. The about 50 policemen deployed to the complex by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, did nothing to restore law and order.

As a consequence, the House of Reps also passed a motion directing Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to redeploy ComPol Mbu, who has been having running battles with Governor Amaechi, for ‘dereliction of duties.’

•Photo shows House of Reps Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.