There is uncertainty in Rivers State following the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum given to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by the state House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule, to present the 2025 budget to the House.
The lawmakers resumed sitting last Monday, following the Supreme Court judgment, which recognized them as authentic legislators.
Another issue of major concern is that the House of Assembly had given an ultimatum to the chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd), to appear before it.
The summons came even as the RSIEC chairman at a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, announced August 9 this year, for the conduct of fresh LGA elections.
But, the chairman did not honour the invitation, perhaps based on the response same day, from his legal team, that it was unconstitutional for him the RSIEC boss to be summoned within 24 hours.
Again, the Rivers Assembly opened another window for RSIEC chairman and commissioners to appear before the House for questioning. The invitation was given on Friday, at its 132nd Legislative Sitting, to explain the Commission’s actions and inactions in the October 5, 2024, Local Government Elections in the state, unbudgeted expenditures, and to further furnish the House where the commission expects to generate funds to conduct its proposed election.
The House reached the resolution after the Leader of the House, Major Jack, informed that the letters inviting the Chairman and Commissioners of RSIEC and the ones calling the attention of Governor Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, and his infractions on the Constitution were duly delivered and publicised; but regretted that neither the governor nor the chairman and his commissioners honoured the invitations.
The Speaker said the House had taken Legislative notice of the refusal of Governor Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, and the submission of the list of commissioner nominees to the House.
He added that the House will address it squarely at the appropriate time. The House voted in the affirmative, directing the Clerk to again invite the Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission to appear before it on Monday, March 10, 2025.
The Speaker emphasized that the House will have no other option than to invoke the spirit and letters of Section 129 (1) (d) of the Constitution, if the Chairman and his Commissioners fail to appear before the House on Monday. With the expiration of the deadline last Wednesday, one of the groups, Ogoni Young Patriots, through its leader, Aeba Godspower, has warned that “Nobody is more Rivers than other”, referring to groups and individuals threatening violence in the state. Godspower particularly stated that the Ijaw Youth Congress does not have a monopoly of violence, cautioning that the political crisis in the state should not be given a tribal coloration.
He said: “We have been keenly observing the reactions to the Supreme Court judgment that clarified the status of the 27 lawmakers in the state.
“This judgment was highly anticipated by supporters of both Governor Sim and the Assembly members.
“Now that the judgment has been delivered, why are some individuals testing the patience of the law and law-abiding citizens of Rivers State?”
A prominent political figure in the state, Barr. Princewill Dike has expressed doubt that Fubara would present the 2025 budget before the House of Assembly.
He told Saturday Sun that where the governor did not appear before the House to present the budget, the lawmakers should commence his impeachment process.
Dike maintained that if Governor Fubara is impeached, the people of Ijaw ethnic nationality would act the same way they did during the time of President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to him, the same Ijaw ethnic nationality that abandoned Jonathan will equally deny Fubara if impeached.
“Impeachment is a constitutional reality. So, why would anybody be threatening Nigeria that heaven would let loose if Governor Fubara is impeached?”
Barr. Dike continued: “The question is, is he (Governor Fubara) in breach of the law, or committed a gross misconduct, which the extant law grimaces at? Yes! Ask the Supreme Court.”
Meanwhile, a militant group known as Niger Delta Rescue Mission, has emerged, warning that any attempt by the lawmakers to impeach the governor, would not only have devastating effects on the state, but Nigeria in general.
The armed youths, who were reacting to the 48-hour ultimatum given to the governor, warned that Fubara’s government should not be truncated for whatever reason. The group further warned lawmakers of Rivers State House of Assembly to retrace their steps in the interest of peace and called on President Bola Tinubu to call the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to order over the political unrest in the state.
In the video, which the militants, who were masked and fully armed, released from the creek, the demands were read by one of them.
Meanwhile, National Leader, Simplicity Movement, Sobomabo Jackrich, has distanced himself and his groups from the threat by the armed youths.
He told journalists: “Count me and my groups out of the threat and viral video by Niger Delta Rescue Movement.
“There are plots by enemies of the state to rope me in because of my support for Governor Fubara.”
Jackrich also distanced his groups, the defunct Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) and Tantita Security from the militants’ threat of hostilities. Also, the leadership of Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) after extensive deliberations with respected Ijaw leaders, expressed its sadness over the recent statements credited to the President of Ijaw National Council (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Chief Sara Igbe, Alhaji Asari Dokubo and some leaders of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC).
In a statement signed by the Director General of RRM, Hon. Johnson Georgewill and Secretary, Mrs. Sarima Akpata, the group said those statements credited to Okaba, Igbe, Dokubo and others made separately, were not only “reckless, thoughtless and provocative” but also “a grave threat to national security and peaceful coexistence.”
On Wednesday, there was a violent clash between two groups suspected to be supporters of Governor Fubara and those of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike at Elele roundabout in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
About 14 people reportedly sustained bullet wounds as a suspected assailant opened fire at a crowd at the roundabout.
