Reconciliatory moves to starve off the impeachment proceedings initiated against Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, began yesterday.
A seven-member peace committee was set up by the Pan-Niger Delta Elder’ Forum to resolve the crisis between the governor and the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
Also yesterday, two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly called on their colleagues to back down on the initiated impeachment.
PANDEF National Chairman Dr Godknows Igali, who set up the panel headed by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), said it has two weeks to submit its report.
Other members of the committee are Senator Obende Domingo, who represented Edo North District in the Senate, (Vice Chairman); former Housing Minister Chief Essien Nduese, retired Federal Permanent Secretary Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agari, former Director of Department of State Service Chief Mike Ejiofor, former Cross River State Attorney-General Mrs. Nella Rabana-Andem (SAN), and Prince Godwin Okotie, who will serve as secretary.
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The political crisis got to a head last week after leading to the the lawmakers serving impeachment notice on the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct.
Both were given seven days to respond to the allegations.
Fubara’s supporters, who decried the proceedings, attributed them to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove him from office.
But the Northcentral All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum said the call for the minister’s sack or resignation was wrong, adding that it could derail the development of the FCT.
A source said President Tinubu had intervened in the Rivers logjam after Fubara met with him outside the country.
This claim could not be independently confirm last night.
According to the source, the President told the governor to implement the agreement he reached with the lawmakers.
It was gathered that Fubara, who had continued to call for calm, left Rivers on Sunday for Abuja to make consultations with All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
The source said the governor, who is now Rivers APC leader, left the state immediately after attending the Interdenominational church service commemorating the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
At the church, Fubara vowed to do everything possible to bring back peace to the state.
But an official of the House of Assembly said the lawmakers’ minds were made up on Fubara’s impeachment, adding that the lawmakers can only rescind their decision if the agreements are implemented by the governor.
He said: “I am sure that President Tinubu’s intervention will be dependent on the willingness of the governor to implement the agreements he reached with the lawmakers.
“We love the President and we respect him, but we also know that the President being an agreement keeper would not call the assembly to withdraw the impeachment notice unless Fubara has started implementing the agreements he entered into with the lawmakers.
“So, the only way the Assembly will back down is when the governor implements the agreements, otherwise nobody will save the governor this time around.”
Two lawmakers beg for Fubara
The members of the Assembly – Sylvanus Nwankwo, Majority Leader and Peter Abbey (Degema Constituency) – pleaded with their colleagues to tamper justice with mercy.
Sylvanus said in Port-Harcourt that following pleas from various elders and leaders within and outside the state, there was a need to amicably resolve the crisis.
He said: “You are all aware that the Rivers State House of Assembly issued a notice of impeachment on the governor and his deputy. But we are appealing to our fellow colleagues to tamper justice with mercy.
“Let us see how we can solve this matter outside impeachment proceedings. We are appealing to the conscience of our colleagues, having listened to many pleas, calls from our elders and leaders both within and outside the state pleading for leniency.
“We are begging our colleagues to reconsider our steps and see how this matter can be resolved amicably, although the governor and the deputy governor had infringed the constitution”.
Abbey urged Fubara to stop taking steps that could lead to the violation of the Constitution to facilitate the resolution of the matter.
He said: “The governor has infringed on parts of the constitution. But we are human beings and we want to plead with our colleagues to please reconsider. You don’t swing an axe the way you raise it. But the governor must also take steps not to infringe further on the constitution to bring an amicable solution.”
In the PANDEF arrangement Igali noted that Wike and Fubara are automatic members of PANDEF Board of Trustees by the virtue of their positions, adding that they could be accorded that position once they are out of government.
He said all former governors from Southsouth states are automatic BoT member.
King Alfred Papapraye Diete Spiff, former Governor of Rivers State and Amayanabo of Town Brass in Bayelsa State, who inaugurated the peace committee, said there is nothing that cannot be resolved.
Spiff who is the Co-chair of PANDEF BoT urged both parties to sheathe the sword for the unity of the state and region.
As part of the terms of reference, the committee is charged to identify main actors in the crisis and reach out to other stakeholders.
The committee is also expected to open dialogue between Fubara and the lawmakers.
Other terms of reference are:
“ Fully identifying the main actors in the crisis between the Governor and the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“ Reaching out to other critical players, especially the Minister of the FCT, other former Governors, elders and traditional rulers and top political leaders.
“Facilitating Dialogue especially by encouraging open communication between Governor Fubara and the State House of Assembly to address grievances and work towards a peaceful resolution.
“ Recommending steps to restoring reconciliation and Stability.
“ Finding ways to restore law and order in Rivers State, ensuring the welfare and safety of citizen.
“ Encouraging tolerance, compromise, and political balance among. stakeholders to prevent further escalation.
“ Ensuring that any resolution respects the democratic will of the people and adherence to constitutional norms.
“ Ensuring that sensitive information shared during the reconciliation process is kept confidential to foster trust and facilitate open dialogue.
“ Consulting Stakeholders: Engaging with all stakeholders, leaders, and groups directly or indirectly involved or impacted by the crisis to gather perspectives to sustainable peace building consensus.”
Agabi, who spoke on behalf of the committee, assured that peace will be restored.
Lamenting that the crisis had lingered for so long, he said the members of the panel heeded the call of the 97 years old monarch to mediate in the crisis.
However, Agabi said:“ The committee is not appointed to sit in judgment over the parties. We have no competence to do so. Our duty is to appeal to the parties to be reconciled with one to another, and we now do so.
“We appeal to the parties to embrace reconciliation. We urge them, we beg them, we appeal to them. Sacrifices are called for. Make them and let there be peace.
“We are appointed to explore ways of bringing the escalating political crisis in Rivers State to an end. This crisis has persisted for too long. If it continues any further, it will call into question the commitment of the parties involved to the interest of the people of Rivers State and of the nation that is compelled to share in the pains and anxieties of that state.”
He added: “We cannot afford to stand by and do nothing or pass by on the other side as Rivers state, a state whose talents and resources have blessed and continue to bless the nation struggles with issues of political power.”
APC forum rejects calls for Wike’s resignation
The North-Central APC forum cautioned against the call for Wike’s resignation or removal, saying that it could derail the ongoing development in Abuja and undermine the gains recorded under the Tinubu administration.
The Forum also cautioned against pressure on the President to redeploy the minister, describing the agitation as politically motivated and detrimental to the interests of the Northcentral zone.
The Chairman of the Forum, Saleh Zazzaga, said Wike should be allowed to continue his work in the FCT, which is an integral part of the Northcentral region.
He said: “The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum rejects calls for the resignation of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
“The minister is performing well in the FCT under an APC administration and we frown at such calls, especially as it concerns the development of the FCT, which is part of the North-Central.
“Some people stayed eight years as FCT minister without anything to show for it, but under two years, Wike has turned the FCT around.”
