Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike

*Directive to Fubara to represent budget already passed into law is to denigrate office of Governor and Judiciary

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Rising from an emergency meeting of Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum held 19 December, 2023 in response to the intervention and directives of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the current political crisis in Rivers State , the members have rejected the agreement as illegal and unconstitutional.

The Elders recalled that in their communiqué of 17th and 18th December, 2023, they urged Mr. President to intervene in the political crisis in Rivers State, for which they commend his prompt intervention between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State but are at a loss as to whether his intervention has solved the problem or escalated it.

They pointed out that Mr. President’s directives for the resolution of the political impasse in Rivers State contravenes the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which Mr. President swore to uphold at all times.

The forum said: “The directives unilaterally suspended the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by virtue of an attempt to reverse a court order recognizing Rt. Honourable Edison Ehie as the speaker and directing that the remainder of members of the House of Assembly constituted the quorum for legislative business.

“That the directive also contravenes the hallowed doctrine and practice of separation of powers, particularly as it affects the responsibility of the judiciary.

This portends executive rascality which undermines our constitutional democracy, rule of law and good governance.

The further said directives to the parties were one sided in favour of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and at the detriment of the Governor, Siminialayi Fubara and the good people of Rivers State.

They point out that “in the eyes of the law and due process, as evidenced by the Rivers State High Court decision, that the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and his team have ceased to exist in the state House of Assembly having defected to another political party, and therefore cannot be reinstated and remunerated through the back door.

They point out that it is the duty of the Executive arm of Government to provide accommodation for legislators in a constitutional democracy as exemplified by the FCT Minister with respect to the National Assembly.

They therefore, point out that it hypocritical to suggest, that the Rivers State House of Assembly under Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule could sit anywhere of their choice, whereas in Abuja, it is the FCT Minister, on behalf of the executive arm that provides accommodation for Federal Legislators. The very reason why the FCT Minister was referred to as the ‘LANDLORD OF ABUJA’ by Mr. President at the presentation of the 2024 budget.

Other issues condemned is the directive to re-present the budget passed and signed into law is a clear attempt to ridicule and denigrate the office of the Governor and the good people of Rivers State, including the Judiciary.

In Public Administration parlance, a person can exit service either by resignation, sack, voluntarily retirement or death. It is therefore preposterous for the President to direct that the people who have exited service for personal reasons be re-absorbed.

The Forum enjoined all responsible citizens of Rivers State to rise up in this our moment of truth, to salvage the soul of Rivers State. Our fathers fought for the creation of Rivers State, we will stand to defend it. “When injustice and criminality become law and a way of life in the polity, resistance becomes a duty”.

Finally, the Forum condemns in its entirety, the directives for the resolution of the political crisis in Rivers State. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy where only the courts can order the reversal of acts done or carried out under the provisions of the law. Therefore any resolution or directive that intends to undermine the principle of separation of powers and the rule of law is unacceptable, null and void and will be resisted, using all constitutional means at our disposal.

The elders/leaders who signed the statement were:

His Excellecy, Chief Rufus Ada George CON GSSRS
His Excellecy Alabo (Dr) G.T.G. Toby, KSC, former Deputy Governor ,His Excellecy, Ibim Princewill,Rear Adm. O. P. Fingesi, (Rtd), OFR,HRH Alabo Emeritus Prof Dagogo Fubara,HRH NLA Iraron, Ede Obolo II,HH Anabs Sara Egbe
Sen Bennett Birabi,Ms. Annkio Briggs
Captain Nwankwo,Prof. A.W. Obianime JP
Aseme-Alabo Prof. E. T. Bristol Alagbariya, JP, KSC,High Chief Marcus Atata JP
Sen Wilson A. Ake,Dr Silva Opusunju
Sen Andrew Uchendu
Dr. Kalada Dick Iruenabere
Atamuno Atamuno
Double Prof. King N O Nyenke
Omie G Abbey