On Monday, the Rivers State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party reacted negatively to a faction of the All Progressives Congress calling for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resign or be impeached.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The event follows Fubara’s declaration that he would not be intimidated by threats from those attempting to overthrow the government by causing political unrest in the state.
He emphasized that his path would continue to be centered on maintaining peace and cautioned against any act of lawlessness. “I want to address our throngs of supporters: I realize that while some of you are in a good mood, others are not. “I want to reassure you that we will emerge stronger and better than we were today, regardless of the circumstances. “Please keep walking in my footsteps; they are still the way of peace. We are the biggest losers in the event of anything happening, so we need it,” Fubara said.
Citing numerous alleged offenses, the APC faction loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike had demanded the governor’s resignation or impeachment. The governor’s offer to a reconciliation conference with the House of Assembly, chaired by Martin Amaewhule, was also rejected by the opposition party, led by Chief Tony Okocha, as a “Greek gift.”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to confirm the 27 lawmakers as legitimate members of the Assembly, Fubara called the lawmakers to a dialogue on Monday in a letter written by Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the Secretary to the State Government, on Sunday. One of the lawmakers, Isaiah Opuende, who represents Akuru-Toru Constituency 2, responded to the invitation on Sunday by criticizing Fubara for utilizing social media.
In his speech to reporters in Port Harcourt on Monday, Okocha demanded that Fubara quit. He also accused the governor of disdaining President Bola Tinubu and not carrying out the eight-point settlement that was previously agreed upon to end the crisis. After a lengthy grandstanding, he pondered whether the governor had gone above and beyond.
The APC leader called Fubara “clueless” and maintained that his two remaining options were to quit honorably or be impeached. Siminalayi Joseph Fubara has two choices: he should retire honorably or be impeached for disrespecting the president and running the state aground. The MPs’ invitation is a gift from Greece. The ruling of the Supreme Court is definitive. There is nothing that anyone can do.
The governor’s only options at this point are to step down or face impeachment. Additionally, he ought to be honorable about it,” he stated. “The APC is still the main opposition party in Rivers State,” he said. The voice of the unheard is us. We weren’t kidding when we said Siminalayi Fubara had no idea. The proof is unmistakable. The governor is a poisonous snake who acts like a saint. He has a puerile agenda for his meetings with the MPs. Is he asking them to talk on the ruling from the Supreme Court?
And why did the Secretary to the State Government sign the invitation letter rather than the governor? It’s a deviation. From my perspective, it is a Greek gift. According to Chief Okocha, the party would not passively watch while the governor’s style of government caused the state to collapse. He compared the situation to a “keg of gunpowder” that is ready to erupt and warned that the governor’s prolonged tenure could cause political instability in the state.
In response, Joseph Johnson, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, denied Okocha’s remarks, claiming that he was not authorized to speak for the APC leadership. According to Johnson, Okocha was a “impostor,” and the court had validated his dismissal as the state APC chairman.
He added that the governor has shown his dedication to peace by contacting the lawmakers for discussion, making the request for impeachment unfounded. Because Chief Okocha is inconsistent, the commissioner declared, “I have chosen not to be reckoning with what he says.” Since he is an impostor in the eyes of the law, he has no moral justification for calling for his impeachment.
He has long since been dismissed from office by the Rivers State High Court. Therefore, I believe he is seeking importance in a risky way and does not deserve it from this government. “This is not the first time,” he continued, adding that he had previously stated that he would ask his party members present in the House to initiate an impeachment process. Shortly after, he renounced He isn’t a man of his word, then. No one is discussing impeachment.
“Impeachment is not even a possibility. The government is willing to talk with the members of the Assembly. Okocha’s position was called “hallucination” by the PDP. Debo Ologunagba, the national publicity secretary for the PDP, charged that the APC group was trying to incite needless political strife. Instead of escalating state political conflicts, he urged the state’s opposition party to concentrate on solving national issues.
Ologunagba urged Okocha to handle the problems pertaining to his role as APC chairman in Rivers and to keep Fubara out of his problems. “One of the many issues facing the man you are referring to is his claim to the chairmanship of the APC in Rivers State,” he added. We can only conclude that the individual is experiencing hallucinations. We are powerless to stop him from dreaming since he is in a dream world. He needs to be informed, nevertheless, that impeachment is a constitutional procedure and not something you just dream about.
Okocha ought to assist his party in addressing the difficulties they have caused Nigerians, rather than Governor Fubara. “Life has never been this terrible for Nigerians, who are forced to pay outrageous energy and telecom bills. This is the reason he and his party, the APC, should be concerned. Ologunagba went on to say that Fubara was still well-liked by Rivers State residents. Because the Rivers people are so pleased with Governor Fubara, he lacks the authority to demand that he step down.
His efforts are a source of pride for them. He has had an impact on the people of Rivers State in a short amount of time that is worthy of our collective praise. He continued by saying, “Governor Fubara was elected to lead his people, and he is doing that excellently.” Timothy Osadolor, the deputy national youth leader for the PDP, stated that no sane person would call for Fubara’s impeachment. He claimed that the governor had the support of the populace and had made a strong political name for himself in the state.
“Those advocating Governor Fubara’s impeachment are ignorant of the constitution. It is not a tea party to remove a governor who is actively serving, such as the governor of Rivers State. Since he has the backing of the Rivers people, the stakeholders are on his side and understand that impeachment is not a tea party. “Governor Fubara has made a name for himself in Rivers State politics. It is neither appropriate nor possible to impeach him. “I think those who have said so ought to take a step back.” “No rational person will attempt to remove Fubara from office,” he continued.
Darlington Nwauju, the state publicity secretary for the APC group led by Emeka Beke, also called Okocha a fraudster taking advantage of the situation. In a statement to our correspondent, Nwauju stated: “Remember that the Supreme Court used the fact that the election was held in spite of the court ruling halting the process as one of the grounds to uphold the Federal High Court ruling that declared the local government elections in Rivers State invalid.
“suddenly, our issue is: if we are not a people in Rivers State experiencing collective amnesia, why must Tony Okocha, who continues to pose as the APC chairman in Rivers notwithstanding the court’s ruling, suddenly be the one lecturing about misuse of or disregard for the legal system? “How can a doctor treat patients when they are experiencing a medical emergency?
As far as the political history of Rivers State is concerned, “people like Tony Okocha are conflict entrepreneurs, and future generations will not forget the ignoble roles he is playing in dismantling democracy and the rule of law in Rivers State,” stated Nwauju, the spokesperson for the faction loyal to the former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi. Fubara calls for rest Fubara has called on the populace to uphold the rule of law and maintain peace for the benefit of the state as a whole.
He gave a speech on Monday at the opening of the Nyeweali Akpor Kingdom palace and the king Eze Levi Oriebe’s spectacular residence in Ozuoba, Obi/Akpor Local Government Area. He reassured his supporters that he will emerge from the crisis stronger and cautioned against any act of lawlessness. “Please keep walking in my footsteps; they are still the way of peace. We are the biggest losers in the event of an incident, thus we need it.
“I will not support any violent or disobedient behavior. However, that does not imply that we shall condone wickedness. We will never condone evil. According to him, his administration is committed to good governance and will not break its pledge to consistently provide development initiatives that have an impact on people. Since it was the first palace inauguration in the kingdom’s more than 200-year history, Fubara saw it as significant.
He claimed that ten months ago, when the Okania-Ogbogoro road renovation project was kicked started, he made a commitment to construct the palace. Six months after the project was given the go-ahead to be built, he said his government had succeeded in creating the fear. When the royal father was speaking, I was so moved that I started to cry a little. He claimed that the Akpor Kingdom operated without a palace for more than 200 years.
“God is completely perfect. Perhaps He gave it to our government to construct so that we would live on in Akpor Kingdom history forever,” Fubara remarked. He went on to say that in addition to building a palace, he also gave the Nyeweali a private home. He asked the people of Obio/Akpor to continue to back his government. During the inauguration, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu-Wodo, the Eze Oha Apara (IV) and the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, recounted how the Fubara administration had constructed a splendid palace for his kingdom a few months prior.
According to Eze Worlu-Wodo, the chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, the government was investing heavily in the construction of palaces for traditional rulers because it recognized that they were the people’s closest leaders. “Your Excellency, it is a pleasure to observe your demonstration of benevolence, respect, and good intentions for the traditional institution. You did a great job, Your Excellency, and I have to say that we are all proud of you,” he remarked.
According to Dr. Rowland Obed-Whyte, the Commissioner for Special Projects, who provided the project description, the construction was awarded in August 2024 and finished in six months. Arrest warrant for RSIEC Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), the chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, and four of his commissioners are the subjects of an arrest warrant issued by the Amaewhule-led Assembly. After the Assembly gave them a 72-hour ultimatum to appear before it, the arrest warrant was issued.
The arrest warrant for Justice Enebeli (retd.) and four of his commissioners was unanimously approved by the Assembly members during Monday’s plenary. The Assembly issued a statement headed “Rivers Assembly wields a big stick, issues warrant of arrest to compel the attendance of Justice Enebeli (retd.) and other RSIEC commissioners,” which was signed by Martins Wachukwu, the Speaker’s media aide.
It said: “The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its 133rd legislative sitting on Monday, invoked its powers to issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after being summoned to attend, fails, refuses, or neglects to attend. On the crest of Section 129(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the House resolved to wield the big stick by issuing a warrant of arrest on the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), and other commission commissioners for repeatedly failing to appear before the House to explain the commission’s alleged misconduct in the conduct of the purportedly ill-starred 5th October 2024 Local Government Election in the state.
“And where the commission anticipates raising money to hold the proposed election in 2025.” Following the appearance of three former commission commissioners who had recently resigned to explain their roles, the House made a resolution. In order to remind the House of the authority granted to them as an Assembly by the Constitution, Major Jack, the House Leader, read Section 129 (1)(d) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution. He emphasized the egregious failure of Justice Enebeli (retd.) and other commission members to respond to the summons.
Amaewhule, who spoke on the subject before to the matter being put to a voice vote, bemoaned the fact that people who came before the Assembly to be screened and confirmed when they wanted to be appointed now treated summonses from the Assembly with contempt. According to him, Justice Enebeli (retd.) has to be hauled before the House to answer questions about the billions of naira that the Rivers people wasted on a local government election. The members voted in favor when the speaker put the question to a voice vote.
Three bills were previously given the first reading by the House: the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Bill, 2025; the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, 2025; and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025. Rivers elders step in. Chief Rufus Ada-George, the chairman of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum and a former governor of Rivers State, has urged all parties involved in the state’s simmering political crisis to put down their weapons. In the sake of the state, he also urged them to abstain from making provocative remarks and making needless demands or threats.
Ada-George reminded the political gladiators in the crisis of the rich history and the impressive advancements made over the years while speaking at a news briefing on Monday. He also emphasized a sense of dedication to the peace and well-being of the state. We seem to be drifting far out into the water right now. However, we must continue to strive for greater advancements and harmonious coexistence,” he stated. The former governor said, “I assert that peace is our utmost priority,” in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling and obviously heated political statement.
“To prevent the fever pitch tension from rising, I urge all parties to immediately cease all threats, inflammatory statements, and ultimatums and to use restraint in their statements.” “Learn from history, especially from the then 1962 Western Regional crisis, as recently emphasized by one prominent citizen of that area,” he urged everyone. If not addressed promptly and equitably, avoidable crises like this one might have serious repercussions for the entire country, not just Rivers State. “We can’t afford to spiral into another crisis of this magnitude.”
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Ada-George emphasized that reasonable and compassionate decisions might still be made. With the significant withholding of monthly appropriations to the state, the gaudy lights are already getting bigger every day. The final outcome and rage are clearly seen on the faces of regular people on the street. We must always foster a mindset of compromise as a people. Compromise has been shown to be an effective strategy for settling disputes and promoting peace, even in the most tense and war-torn areas,” he stated.
All former governors and their deputies were urged by Ada-George to speak up for Rivers State’s best interests. Additionally, he urged the 32 lawmakers to put the welfare of the state ahead of their own and their respective parties’ interests. “In our pursuit of peace and prosperity, it is time for us to join as a single, coherent nation. “As Rivers State’s oldest civilian governor, I have hope for our beloved state’s future.
In order to create a peaceful, better, and more affluent future for ourselves and future generations, he continued, “I therefore implore you all to join me in this call to action, to work together.” Amabs Sara-Igbe, a founding spokesperson for the Pan Niger Delta Forum and another member of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, chastised Okocha for inciting unrest. Through the SSG, Danagogo, Sara-Igbe defended the letter sent to the Speaker of the Assembly.
Given his educational background, I find it surprising that Tony Okocha is unaware of the executive governor’s responsibilities. Does the governor or president formally sign letters? “The secretary relays official correspondence to the federal and state governments. Signing letters is not the responsibility of the governor or the president.
“In Rivers State, there are no two governors. We only have one governor, who is the head of state, so it is normal and correct if the head of state asks you to attend a meeting, unless you claim that we have two governors,” he remarked. He issued a warning that the people of the state and the Niger Delta will oppose any attempt to interpret the governor’s peace proposals as a show of weakness.
“No one is offering prayers for difficulties. The governor declared that he will carry out the Supreme Court’s ruling. I take it that the ruling did not call for his resignation or impeachment? “And even though we disagree with the Supreme Court’s ruling, we will nevertheless follow it because it is the highest court. However, people shouldn’t assume that because we intend to carry out the ruling, thus he (Okocha) will speak regardless.
If something were to happen to Sim, the people of the Niger Delta and the Rivers would not take it lightly. He responded, “Let him make it clear to himself.” A group wants a lawsuit. Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership, a non-governmental organization, has given Fubara seven days to file a lawsuit against the Assembly members for allegedly lying under oath. According to the group, the 27 lawmakers who supported Wike switched from the PDP to the APC.
Chizy Enyi, the group’s president general, signed a letter to the governor on Monday stating that if the governor did not comply, the group would be forced to request an order of mandamus to force him to do so. “To prosecute the underlisted individuals who are Rivers State government officials who committed perjury by lying under oath, I give you seven days’ warning before taking any action. Dumle Maol, Major Jack, Linda, Somiari Stewart, Franklin U. Nwabocha, Christopher K. Ofiks, Azeru Opara, and Martin Chike Amaewhule are among the parliamentarians who are impacted.
“Others include Igwe Obey-Aforji, Justina Emeji, Ignatius Onwuka, Loolo Isaiah Opuende, Abbey Peter, Queen Owuma Tony, Tonye Adoki, Granville W. Tekenari, Ngbar Bernard, John Dominic Iderima, and Enemi A. George.” Barile Nwakoh, Emilia Lucky Amadi, Nkemjika Ezekwe, David O. Arnold, Nwankwo Sylvanus, Gerald Oforji, Wami Solomon, and Chimezie Nwankwo are also mentioned. “We would like to inform you that we will request a mandamus order from the court to force you to pursue criminal charges against the aforementioned individuals if you do not do so within seven days,” the statement said.
The group further stated that all the documentation required to “allow you (Fubara) to prove your case beyond reasonable doubt are hereby attached” in relation to the alleged offense. Plateau PDP issues a warning In separate interviews in Jos on Monday, a few Plateau State PDP leaders denounced the demand for Fubara’s resignation or impeachment. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a state PDP executive called the circumstances in Rivers “unfortunate.”
He issued a warning that there would be opposition to any attempt to remove the governor from office. The situation was attributed by another party leader to the courts. The nation’s judiciary is the source of our problems. If not, everyone witnessed the Rivers MPs switching to a different party, but the judiciary disagrees. That’s the issue,” he continued.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
