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By Jimitota Onoyyme P/Harcourt THE Department of State Services, DSS yesterday raised a preliminary objection to the application filed by the Majority leader of the Rivers state House of Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd challenging his invitation by the Police over his alleged role in the recent fracas in the hallowed chambers of the Assembly. The Majority leader in his application on matter of fundamental rights filed by his Counsel, Bello Olisa Nwafor, SAN, had among other things sought an order of the court to set aside the “declaration made by the Police on 17/7/2013 with the authority/connivance of the respondents declaring the applicant as a wanted person by the police, the said declaration being unlawful, ultra vires, unwarranted, illegal and unconstitutional, null and void. “A declaration that whatever that happened or transpired on the floor of the Rivers state House of Assembly on the  09-07-2013 with respect to the illegal taking over of the House by the  five members of the Rivers...

BY HENRY UMORU ABUJA— The Presidency yesterday declared that the crisis in Rivers State does not pose any threat to the nation’s democracy. It said Nigeria remains peaceful and cannot in any way be threatened by political developments in the State. Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, said Rivers State is peaceful and calm with residents going about their activities under peaceful atmosphere. The position of the Presidency on developments in Rivers State icame in spite of the lingering political logjam in the state that resulted in near-impeachment of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree and a free-for-all in the House penultimate week. The House Leader, Chidi Lloyd; and two other lawmakers — Michael Chinda and Martins Amahule sustained injuries during the fracas. The Presidency also carpeted the five Northern governors who paid solidarity visit to Governor Rotimi Ama...