Politics
By Victoria Frances THE crisis in the Rivers State, took a turn for worse as Governor Siminalayi Fubara wield the sledgehammer to protect his young administration. The fall out action is the dislodgement of all those loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and his political mentor who is fighting him to control the State. The result is that in one day, Fubara collapsed all the structures of Wike to erect his own by sacking his chief of staff, all 23 council chairmen, dissolved the state executive council, changed the speaker of the House of Assembly, suspended the chief judge, sacked Government House commandant, his Chief Security Officer and presided over a security meeting to consolidate the security of the state. The crisis degenerate early Monday, October 30, when the lawmakers gathered to impeach the governor and there was an explosion at the House of Assembly. The governor, who went with a convoy went to ascertain what happened was pelted with rain bullets. However, a group of lawmakers loyal to the governor regrouped to impeach the speaker loyal to Wike. Crisis in Rivers House of Assembly Eight members of the Rivers House of Assembly, loyal to Governor Fubara, regrouped to impeached Martins Amaewhule, speaker of the House, and Dumle Maol, his deputy. They also suspended Samuel Chibuzor Amadi, chief judge of the State, and directed the governor to appoint an acting chief judge for the state. The lawmakers, who sat in one of the buildings at the Government House, Port Harcourt, elected Edison Ehie, former impeached Leader of the House, as the new speaker. Reacting, Ehie, speaker, 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, explained why he suspended some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Ehie made the explanation in a statement on Monday, October 30, stating that some members of our Assembly were suspended because they have fallen short of the principles of integrity, accountability, and dedication to public service. The full statement reads: "I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. Today, I stand before you as the newly elected Speaker of the 10th Assembly of Rivers State House of Assembly, humbled by the trust you have placed in me to lead our great state. "It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of responsibility that I address you regarding recent events in our esteemed Assembly. As your chosen representatives, we have a sacred duty to uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and dedication to public service. "Regrettably, it has come to my attention that some members of our Assembly have fallen short of these principles. In light of their actions, which undermine the trust and faith you have bestowed upon us, I have taken the difficult decision to suspend the defaulted members from their legislative duties. "Rest assured, this decision was not made lightly. We are committed to ensuring that the Rivers State House of Assembly continues to be a beacon of hope and progress for all our people. We will work tirelessly to restore your trust in our institution and fulfill the promises we made to you. "I urge you, my fellow citizens, to remain steadfast in your support for a united and prosperous Rivers State. Together, we will overcome challenges and build a future where honesty, accountability, and transparency prevail. "Thank you for your unwavering trust and understanding. Let us move forward, hand in hand, towards a brighter tomorrow." On his part, Governor Fubara has congratulated Ehie, who was deputy speaker of the 9th House of Assembly, on his emergence as the new speaker of the House. Also Chijoke Ihunwo, chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, in Rivers State, has congratulated Ehie on his emergence as speaker of the State House of Assembly A statement in Port Harcourt, on Monday, October 30, by Ihunwo expressed the hope that Ehie would further improve relationship between the legislature and the executive, and provide more opportunities for the growth of Rivers youths. Elder Statesmen in Rivers wade into crisis Edwin Clark, national leader, South-South/PANDEF, has urged President Bola Tinubu to call Wike, minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to order over the crisis in Rivers State. A statement entitled: "Call FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Security Agencies to Order Chief E.K. CLARK Tells President Tinubu" which was made available to Realnews on October 30, stated that the elder statesman is greatly disturbed by developments in Rivers State in the last 24 hours. Part of the statement reads: "I have been greatly disturbed by the reported developments in Rivers State in the last 24 hours. I have been reliably informed that there is a plot to unlawfully remove the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Siminalaye Fubara, who has spent only about 5 months in office. "I understand the sad episode is being orchestrated by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike. And that the intention is to remove the Governor, force his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu to resign, and install the Speaker of the House of Assembly, another Ikwerre person as the governor of the State. Let me warn strongly, we won't allow that to happen! "President Bola Tinubu must call Nyesom Wike and the security agencies in Rivers State to order, to avert any untold crisis in Rivers State." According to Clark, "Last night, the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly was burnt, in what apparently is part of the plot to destabilize the State. "The Governor was tear-gassed and was even threatened with being shot at when he visited the Assembly Complex after the incident, to assess the level of damage. "We are not in a barbaric state where people can do whatever they like; we are in a democracy and the tenets of constitutional democracy must be upheld by all Rivers people have suffered enough political crises, the state should not be allowed to degenerate again into its dark past, and the Niger Delta Region by extension. The consequences would be dire for the stability of the region and the National Economy. "What has Governor Fubara done wrong? Refusing to be further "remote controlled"?" He stated that "Mr. Nyesom Wike was Governor for 8 years, nobody hassled him. He governed Rivers State like an Emperor, he did not show any iota of respect and regard to anyone, not even those who imposed him on Rivers people in 2015. He said: "President Tinubu must act fast and avert the unfolding crisis in Rivers State in the interest of his administration, the nation's democracy, and the Country at large," adding that a word is enough for the wise". (With reports from RealTime.ng)
