Rivers Crisis: Reps caucus disown Deekor as leader, spokesman

The Rivers State caucus in the House of Representatives has disowned one of its members, Hon. Dumnamene Deekor as its leader and spokesman, saying he was never instructed to speak on behalf of the caucus.

In a statement signed by the Leader, Rivers State Caucus in the House, Hon. Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante, the caucus dismissed a statement credited to the lawmaker calling for the sanction of the coordinator of the G-60 Lawmakers in the House, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere.

Abiante said that the leadership of the Rivers caucus in the House has always been based on seniority, adding that a second term lawmaker cannot therefore lead the caucus when there are more senior lawmakers.

He explained that as a Lawmaker, Dum Deekor is aware of the fact that every member of the House has the right to comment on any issue affecting any part of the country as they have sworn to defend the integrity of Nigeria.

The statement reads: “The Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives read with dismay a statement purportedly issued by the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Hon. Dumnamene Deekor calling for the discipline of the Coordinator of the G-60 Lawmakers in the Green Chamber, Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga over his position on vexed issues in the polity.

“While we wouldn’t stand against the popular phrase: ‘everybody is entitled to his opinion’, we refused to collectively accede to Dum Deekor’s self serving stands as he has never been elected by the Rivers State Caucus to speak on our behalf.

“It is a trite knowledge and backed by precedence that the Leadership of the Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly are based on seniority. Hon Dum Deekor being a second term lawmaker cannot arrogate to himself the position of Caucus Leader in the midst of 3rd and 4th term lawmakers.

“For the records, Deekor was properly elected in 2019 haven lost his seat in 2015 at the Court of Appeal which barred him from being a member of the 8th Assembly. He was recently reelected in 2023 to serve his second term in the House. This alone disqualifies him to jostle for the leadership of the Rivers State Caucus.

“We call on the general public to discountance Dum Deekor’s statement as vituperations of a gord being.