Lolo Isaiah Opuende, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has turned down Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s invitation to a pivotal meeting at Government House in Port Harcourt. Opuende said in an internet video that the governor should “dey his dey” (be alone) while the MPs would follow suit.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Opuende, who is representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, said that their principal had forewarned them that the moment would come for both sides to part ways when the political crisis started. In addition, he questioned the invitation’s communication method, claiming that lawmakers couldn’t possibly honor the governor’s request. “How do you expect us to show up after posting a letter to the House of Assembly on social media? He responded, “The governor ought to write us properly.”
In response to pressure from the lawmakers, Governor Fubara earlier yesterday invited the State House of Assembly faction led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule to a meeting at Government House on Monday. The invitation follows the expiration of the assembly’s 48-hour deadline for the governor to submit the 2025 budget.
The governor had received the Supreme Court’s ruling and was prepared to meet with lawmakers who supported FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, according to a letter dated March 9th, written by Secretary to the State Government Dr. Tammy Danagogo and addressed to Speaker Amaewhule. Discussions on finding a suitable venue for assembly sessions, paying unpaid allowances, presenting the budget, and other pertinent topics are on the agenda.
The meeting will take place at the Governor’s Office in Port Harcourt on Monday, March 10th, at 10 a.m. The assembly had already given the governor another ultimatum to fire commissioners and board members who had not been vetted by the House and requested that he produce the 2025 budget. Additionally, it called for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Chairman to come before it.
The long-running political issue in Rivers State was supposed to be resolved by the Supreme Court’s recent order, but both sides have interpreted it in ways that have exacerbated the unrest. As the Wike camp uses the ruling to consolidate control, analysts pointed out that Governor Fubara is now in an even more precarious position. They proposed that the only practical way to maintain stability in the state might be to find a political solution outside of court disputes.
What is Fubara’s next move? According to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Assembly’s actions “are viewed as a necessary step to restore legitimacy and ensure that the Assembly’s constitutional role in confirming appointments is respected,” said attorney Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, who shared his thoughts on the options available to the governor. The Constitution grants the Governor the authority to name commissioners, but the House of Assembly must approve their nominations. The State Judicial Service Commission, State Civil Service Commission, State Independent Electoral Commission, and Attorney-General are among the other positions that need Assembly ratification, he clarified.
Regarding the situation’s potential ramifications, Obono-Obla cautioned that disregarding the Assembly’s order might lead to yet another crisis and possibly expose the governor to accusations of egregious misbehavior, which is grounds for impeachment. “Governor Fubara runs the possibility of creating a new crisis and facing an accusation of serious misconduct, which is grounds for impeachment, if he disregards the House of Assembly’s mandate.
“However, if he follows the order and orders the impacted appointees to step down, he might expose himself to a future conflict with the Assembly, which might reject the new appointees,” he stated.
Additionally, he made a historical analogy to the Old Kaduna State in 1979, where Governor Balarabe Musa had a comparable impasse with the state assembly. After 10 rejections of his selection of commissioners, Musa was forced to rule for over two years without a State Executive Council. Ultimately, he was removed after the Kaduna State House of Assembly began the impeachment process. In order to prevent a repeat of this situation in Rivers State, he suggested, “Grantor Fubara must show mercy to his enemies.”
Speaking on the subject, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC), stated that Governor Fubara’s sole option is to follow the Supreme Court’s decision while also pursuing his case in the Federal High Court. Dr. Fyneface informed our reporter, “He should also try to work with the state Assembly members who have been recognized by the Supreme Court judgment.”
He says that the governor should continue to act diplomatically in spite of the challenging political environment. “I am well aware that they are determined to try to impeach him because they believe he presented the budget, dealt with three lawmakers, and all of that, so no matter what they do, they might not be successful. They are on a vendetta assembly, and I think that the only way to bring peace back to the state is to abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling and engage in negotiations with them,” he stated.
In a similar vein, John Tubona, a public affairs expert from Port Harcourt, advised the governor to handle the Assembly’s problems diplomatically. He pointed out that Governor Fubara’s recognition and acceptance of the Supreme Court’s decision was already a positive move. He did, however, urge him to solidify his position by bolstering his political base and making sure that the law was followed.
The manner he has continued in spite of all the distractions around him has won him the sympathy of many Nigerians. It is difficult to remove a current governor from office. “He should use diplomacy to engage the Assembly members and use intelligence to determine what they truly want,” Tubona stated.
In the current situation, Fubara’s future moves will be critical in deciding whether he can stabilize his government or encounter more political upheaval. His political destiny will be greatly influenced by his capacity to handle the situation and engage in negotiations with the Assembly members, Tubona continued.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
