May 7, (THEWILL)- Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the State House of Assembly, currently led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, is not recognised, saying the Abuja peace accord was a political deal and not a constitutional solution.
Governor Fubara spoke on Monday while addressing a delegation of political and traditional leaders from Bayelsa State, led by former governor of the state, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Rivers has been enmeshed in a political crisis since October 2023, after some lawmakers backed by the immediate-past Governor of the state and current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, attempted to impeach Governor Fubara.
The crisis steadily deteriorated till last December when President Tinubu brokered peace between Wike and Fubara after the seats of 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister were declared vacant.
While the peace deal mandated Fubara to allow the pro-Wike lawmakers whose seats were declared vacant to return to the Assembly with their rights and privileges restored, including conducting legislative business at a venue of their choice, the lawmakers had since their restoration dispensed with Fubara assent to bills in the state.
Speaking on Monday while addressing the visiting Bayelsa State delegation, Governor Fubara declared that the state has no House of Assembly and that he accepted the peace deal to give the lawmakers a “floating”.
Fubara noted that in seeking a peaceful resolution to the political crisis that erupted in the state in 2023, he had attended several reconciliation meetings, whose resolutions the other party, where the state’s lawmakers belong, had rebuffed.
He stated that when he assumed office, it was with the resolve to build on the existing foundation of the development of past leaders, especially the immediate-past governor of the State and his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike.
He maintained that he had acted like the big brother in the crisis, not interested in destroying the ‘house’ so that meaningful development could continue to be engendered in the State while securing a tenable political relationship.
Fubara emphasised that it would have been out of the ordinary to engage in any political fight when there was so much work to be done for the state and its people as their Governor.
The Governor said he strongly felt that it was proper to set some records straight about what had become a minor problem that was not uncommon in every human relationship.
His words: “Let me say it here, those group of men who claim that they are Assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record.
“I accepted that peace accord to give them a floating (soft-landing). That’s the truth. There is nothing in that peace accord that is a constitutional issue. It is a political solution to a problem. I accepted it because these are people that were visiting me and we were together in my house.
“These are people that I have helped in many ways when I wasn’t even a Governor. Yes, we might have our disagreements, but I believe that one day, we could also come together. That was the reason I did it.
“But I think it has gotten to a time when I need to make a statement on this thing so that they understand that they are not existing. Their existence and whatever they have been doing is because I allowed them to do so. If I don’t recognise them, they are nowhere, that is the truth.
“So, I want you to see the sacrifice I have made to allow peace to be in our State. I can say here, with all amount of boldness, I have never called any policeman anywhere to go and harass anybody.
“But I know that I have always taken the path of peace. I have shown respect. I’ve subjected myself to every meeting of reconciliation for peace. And what happens, each time we come out from such meetings, we are faced with one thunder or lightning.
“But it is a bad thing when the problem that ought not to be anything becomes something, and in fact, gets out of the bedroom to the sitting room and the compound. That is the case of Rivers State today.
“I am also happy that you even mentioned the issues. Even when I have all the instruments of State powers, I have shown restraint, and I believe that whoever is alive and has been following the activities of our dear State knows that I have acted as a big brother in the course of this crisis.
“I have not acted like a young man who may want the house to be destroyed but I have behaved like the mature young man that I am. This is because I know that no meaningful development will be achieved in an atmosphere of crisis.
“And because our intention for Rivers State is to build on the foundation that had been laid by our past leaders, it will be wrong for me to take the path of promoting crisis. That is why we are still recording the development that you are hearing around Rivers State.”
In his remark, the leader of the delegation and former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, said their visit was one of solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Rivers people who have shown maturity in the face of the political crisis for stability and development to thrive.
“Your Excellency, we will agree that no true brother or even good neighbour can stay unconcerned when the house of a brother or neighbour is on fire or has an issue. Even if there is a small flame, a neighbour or a good brother should be concerned.
“We have come here as your brothers and as good neighbours also. But also in our own right as Rivers people because this State is our Mother State. And we are here to show support and solidarity with you, your Government, and most importantly, solidarize with the good people of this State.
“We have also come with a message, Your Excellency, of peace and reconciliation, forgiveness, unity, mutual respect, political maturity and tolerance by all,” he said.
