Nigerians have been reacting after catching a
glimpse of what transpired on the floor of Rivers
State House of Assembly when the lawmakers
were embroiled in a show of shame:

“This is why we will never achieve anything
in this country when power have been
given to cults who terrorized their mates
back in school and have now brought that
wayward life to bear on our socio political
sphere. What a travesty!"

As at the time of posting this report, three major
video clips of the incident had gone viral on You
Tube with many users of the social network
sharing the video on their respective channels.
On the YouTube channel of SaharaTV, for
instance, the video had attracted over 43,000
views when our correspondent visited.
On another YouTube channel belonging to Israel
Ibeleme, 6,777 people had viewed the video,
with many of them describing the development
as shameful and embarrassing in their
comments.
Many of them stressed that it was unfortunate
that the lawmakers were fighting over personal
interests adding that it would have been a lot
better, if the energy wasted in the brawl had
been channeled into fighting for the progress
and development of the country.
On the YouTube channel of SaharaTV, one
Michael Eseigbe, who observed one of the
lawmakers shouting “Arrow Mates”, described
him as a cultist.
According to him, the chant he screamed was a
slang expression used by a cult group known as
“Supreme Viking confraternity.”
Eseigbe said, “Did any one hear the lawmaker
screaming Arrow Mates? That is the chant of a
cult group known as the 'Supreme Viking
confraternity' and we call him a honourable
member?"
Another visitor to the YouTube channel, with the
name Besty Large, called for the immediate
removal of those lawmakers chanting the slogan.
Large adds, “It’s a big disgrace to note that a
Nigerian lawmaker will be chanting ‘Aro Mate.” If
this man shouting that slogan is not brought to
book, that means there is no law in Nigeria. He is
promoting cult activities. How can a cult
member fight for justice?
“This man must be removed as a lawmaker. It’s
a big shame and disgrace to a system of
government in the country. The man is a
member of the Viking confratanity). They are the
ones who use Aro mate. The laws of the land
forbid members of the legislature and executive
arm from belonging to any cult group.’’
But as many Nigerians condemned the
lawmakers for the brawl, others called on
Nigerians to vote for responsible politicians to
pilot the affairs of various arms and tiers of
government.
A visitor to one of the YouTube channels, who
identified himself simply as Magic, said it was not
enough to condemn the act but that the
ultimate power belongs to the electorate to vote
irresponsible leaders out of office.
Magic stated, “We come here to condemn this
shameful act but by next election we would not
come out and vote for the right people. It’s high
time we rose up to our civic duties of voting for
the right people.
“It’s about time we took our rights to vote
seriously so that we do not face such
embarrassments again. If not, this will just be a
tip of the iceberg.’’
Corroborating Magic’s position, another
commentator, Mayaki, encouraged youths to
come out enmasse and contest elective positions
to bring about change in the Nigerian polity.
Mayaki says, “Why we leave our future in the
hands of these hooligans is beyond me. Seventy
per cent of this country’s population is under 35
(67% under 25)!
“We are not too young to claim control of our
destiny, after all, we cannot claim that the
wisdom and maturity that comes with old age
makes our politicians deserving of their
positions.”
A cross section of those who dropped comments
on various YouTube channels also called for the
meting out of appropriate sanctions on the
policemen who joined in the fracas as well as
those who failed to intervene during the crisis.
James Cliif noted, “The Commissioner of Police in
Rivers State (Mr. Joseph Mbu) should be dealt
with for the failure to arrest that cultist who
claim to be an honourable member of that House
of Assembly. Shame on men of the Nigeria Police
and all the security officials who were there but
simply looked on."