Tag: Fubara

• APP: cases might end at Supreme Court

Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule has accused Governor Siminialayi Fubara of violating the Constitution and the rule of law.

Amaewhule, who was reacting to a Federal High Court judgment that dismissed the case filed by the All Peoples Party (APP) seeking to remove him and 26 others lawmakers as an abuse of court process, said he was convinced Fubara would not obey the judgment.

The Speaker noted that the governor had serially disobeyed all judgments and orders from courts of competent jurisdiction in the desperation to remove them from office.

He said: “We listened to the judge and he made references to previous judgments and court orders that the governor of Rivers has failed to respect. I know he will also not respect this one.

“He has sworn not to respect the Constitution of Nigeria. Fubara has sworn not to respect judgments of the court, even the Supreme Court, and he has decided to govern Rivers outside every provision of the law. But we should rest assured that all of us will continue to push for our democracy. We will remain undeterred.”

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The Speaker said the judgment had shown that his office was not vacant and that he remained the leader of the authentic House of Assembly.

He said the court had also dismissed the claim that he and fellow lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to their All Progressives Congress (APC).

Amaewhule said: “We are commending the judiciary. The judge was very clear. All that we heard is pleasing to our ears. It is a further confirmation of previous judgments and injunctions of other courts of competent jurisdiction.

“The most important thing is that our adversaries are hell bent on taking us out of our seats. But what we have heard has clearly shown that the office of the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly is not vacant.

“It is not in contention. The Rivers State House of Assembly under my leadership is the only House known to law. A lot has been said about the issue of defection.

“Twenty-seven of us never defected to any other party. We were elected under the platform of the People Democratic Party and we never defected. We never took any step to defect to another party.

“What you see every time are mere plans by the governor. Siminialayi Fubara is sponsoring everything to remove us from office because he can’t withstand the rule of law. He doesn’t want to govern under the tenets of our democracy and he doesn’t want to obey the principles of separation of power.”

“The governor is afraid of democracy. That is why he is hell bent on removing all of us. He runs to every court, looking for how to remove us through the backdoor.

“What the court has said is clear: there is no such thing as defection. We have a right to defect but we never defected. The governor is the one sponsoring all the persons going from one court to another.”

But the APP, through the state’s Legal Adviser to APP, Henry Ekine, averred that the judge did not consider the merit of the case.

He said: “What we want you to know here is to tell the public – our esteemed members and the general public – that nothing substantial has changed. All of the decisions that have come from the various High Courts, courts of coordinate jurisdiction, I think will be settled when we get to the Supreme Court…”

The political family of the Rivers state governor, Siminialayi Fubara, has chosen the Action Peoples Party (APP) to contest the October 5th local government elections, following the crisis rocking the family’s original political platform, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Nation earlier reported that ahead of the grassroot poll, the governor and his loyalists were seeking alternative platform to contest the local government because they were not in control of the PDP.

It was observed that since the political crisis broke out in the state, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and his camp have been maintaining firm grip of the PDP’s structures across the state.

Wike’s camp was said to have finally wrestled the entire structures from Fubara and consolidated their stronghold for the next four years during the ward, local government and state congresses of the party.

Fubara and his loyalists boycotted the congresses after obtaining a court order halting the exercise, but Wike’s loyalists relied on another court order to constitute the structures.

Though the outcome of the congresses had further deepened the crisis in the party, there were no indications that the PDP structures would be handed over to Fubara despite promises of some PDP leaders at the national level.

Sensing trouble, the governor and his camp were said to have selected APP as their alternative platform to contest the elections.

Governor’s loyalists and social media aides had been promoting the activities of the APP making the little known party to gain popularity within the state.

Fubara’s interest in APP was hitherto a subject of speculation but with his loyalists emerging local government chairmanship and councilorship candidates, the matter had become a reality.

It was gathered that after the hullabaloo that characterised selection of candidates across the wards and local government councils, the camp published the final list of the chosen ones under the APP.

Most of the caretaker committee chairmen emerged chairmanship candidates while new persons were anointed chairmanship candidates in some local government areas.

Some of the anointed candidates were said to have sparked protests in some areas especially in Khana Local Government Area, where stakeholders marched to the Government House Port Harcourt and demanded that the governor should change the choice of one Martin Nwigbo as the chairmanship candidate.

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It was gathered that all Fubara’s 23 chosen chairmanship candidates emerged from the APP platform.

Fubara’s loyalists, who emerged chairmanship candidates of the APP are Abua/Odua, Vincent Reuben Obu; Ahoada-East, Chibudom Ezu; Ahoada-West, Mr. Iyekor Ikporo;  Akuku-Toru,  Mrs. Tonye Oniyide; Emohua, David Omereji; Obio/Akpor, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo; Omuma, Promise Reginald; Opobo/Nkoro, Enyiada Cookey-Gam; Port Harcourt, Ezebunwo Ichemati, among others.

The APP Secretariat located at the new GRA in Port Harcourt was said to be a beehive of political activities as Fubara’s supporters were trooping in and out of the building.

Recently, 20 Councillorship candidates representing the 20 wards in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area undertook a familiarization visit to the APP Secretariat and held a meeting with the state party Chairman,  Sunny N Wokekoro.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area in Rivers State, Otonye Briggs, was suspended by Governor Siminialayi Fubara for allegedly romancing with the camp of the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, it was gathered on Wednesday.

Fubara on Tuesday sacked Otonye Briggs with immediate effect and replaced him with Bitebobo Nelson Amieye.

The Governor, in a terse statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, directed Otonye to hand over all council property in his possession to Amieye.

He was removed few weeks to the October 5 local government elections in the State with the Governor not stating any reason for his actions.

But sources said Otonye had a running battle with the Governor’s handlers over alleged disloyalty to them.

One of the sources, who spoke in confidence, said the former CTC chairman was accused of romancing with the camp of Wike.

“They said he was not loyal to them and he was hobnobbing with the camp of their enemy. They also accused him of congratulating party officials elected at the just concluded Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

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“The Governor and his political family boycotted all the congresses beginning from the ward to the state level. But Otonye was accused of congratulating the winners,” he said.

Besides, another source said Otonye was generally accused of non-performance  and inability to account for all the monies he received to empower the people of his LGA.

Prior to his removal, many stakeholders wrote on their social media platforms that Otonye sidelined them and should be relieved of his office.

Others claimed that he was the worst CTC chairman accusing him of failing to fulfill his promises for the LGA.

But others sang his praises referring to him as a silent achiever claiming that all the allegations of non performance and diversion were untrue.

For instance, one Daerego Benibo, wrote that Briggs was the best gift the Governor gave to the Akuku-Toru local government 

He said Briggs had brought nothing but the dividends of good governance to the people of the LGA describing him as a silent achiever 

He listed some of his achievements as the provision of local government paid electricity: engagement of over 200 casual workers; engagement of over 200 persons in different committees and restoration of peace in the council.

Ogoni and Oyigbo political leaders yesterday called for a micro-power shift to their area of Rivers State in 2027.

The resolved to produce a replacement for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

At the meeting of the Ogoni/Oyigbo Peoples Assembly at Tai attended by politicians across party lines, the leaders chided the governor over his feud with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike,  Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At the parley presided over by Ambassador Akawor were Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Magnus Abe and  Chief Victor Giadom.

Acording to them, the two ethnic nationalities, which fall under the same senatorial district, should forge unity to produce the governor in the next election.

To actualise power shift, they called on major parties to consider Ogoni/Oyigbo for the governorship ticket.

The leaders, who commended Wike for uniting Ogoni and Oyigbo, also expressed their willingness to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.

Mpigi, who read their communique,  said: “The Ogoni and Oyigbo Peoples Assembly express gratitude to God Almighty for a successful assembly, loyalty, gratitude and support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We also affirm complete faith, loyalty and commendation to the Minister of the FCT, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike not only as our leader in Rivers State but as the extraordinary unparalleled achiever in public service both as governor of Rivers State and as minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

“This Peoples Assembly as an organisation will educate itself along the lines of sister organisations such as Kagote, Mosop, Ofalaru’ Eleme, Asa/Ndoki progressives, etc for the pursuit of our political and economic freedom and advancement.

“This Assembly recalls that at the end of the tenure of Nyesom Wike as governor, he directed that his successor should come from the Rivers South East Senatorial District. This was indeed, the right thing to do as it was the only senatorial district that is yet to produce governor of Rivers State since its creation.

“He chose Sim Fubara of Opobo as governor, despite it being the smallest LGA in the district. In our usual loyalty for the party’s position and the decision of our leader, we allowed it to pull through.

“The battle to secure victory for Sim Fubara was difficult as he was seen as non-Ijaw, semi-Ijaw. It is ironic but we accept the fact that those who opposed and voted against him Sim Fubara that he is unworthy and unfit are today his friends while those of us who worked tirelessly for his hard earned victory under the leadership of the FCT minister are now and ever his worst enemies”.

The leaders warned the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to desist from making uncomplimentary remarks about the FCT Minister. 

The stakeholders said: “The years the leaders of Rivers State have tried to unite our people in spite of our ethnic fault lines but no one more than Clark sees anything outside Ijaw.

“He criticized Fubara as not Ijaw at night, but once the problem between the Gov. Fubara and Minister Wike started, Fubara suddenly became an acceptable Ijaw to Clark. For Clark the interest of other ethnic groups doesn’t matter but only the Ijaws.

“It is important to mention that we are the Ogonis and Oyigbos and we are one of the largest ethnic groups in Rivers State, perhaps second or the most outstanding after the Ikwerres. We voted for an Ijaw man to be governor only to be condemned by this Ijaw leader.

“We are asking Chief Clark to most respectfully withdraw any form of hatred and insulting words against our leader and Minister of the FCT immediately. We have out of respect for his age and person restrained ourselves from joining issues with him.

“There are issues in Delta his home State that require his attention. His obsession and rudeness in Rivers State affairs have divided us and cut us apart and kind of consciously threatening our peace.

“These individuals are conflict merchants and rent seekers with no roles in their own states. Their easy or leased access to Rivers State resources has made intrusion into our affairs irresistible.

“Like Clark, they will pick on Wike and say the most outrageous things on national TV in other to get the little they seek from Rivers State. They do not fact check or consider the gravity of their attention seeking media appearances of those false allegations against Wike or of us”.

The leaders also threw their weight behind the 27 lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, describing them as the authentic members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

They said: “We also stand with the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. We also stand with the decision of the Supreme Court that CTCs are unlawful.

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“We are disturbed by the continuous disbursement of funds to care-takers Committees… which constitutes one of the most wasteful expenditure of our time. A time will come when all these funds will definitely be demanded.

“While from time to time we shall speak further on contemporary issues, we wish to believe that the Ogonis and Oyigbos will no longer stand by and be helpless in fighting for our interest.

“For us, our time has come and our time is now. Our time to fight for the education of our children, our time to pursue the right of our people, to create opportunities, to empower our youths and women and create the environment for our people to actualise their innate potentials.

“This is our moment, this is our time. We demand our right to seek the highest office in our state. It is time to ensure that the next governor of Rivers State is from our zone.

“It is only if and working with the Ikwerres, the people of Orashi, Etches, Ijaws of Rivers State and others, we shall prevail, we shall win”.

Mpigi challenged all political actors visiting the Aso Villa at night to come out publicly to declare their support for Mr. President.

He called President Tinubu to contest the 2027 election to consolidate on his current efforts at improving the economy.

He said: “I am calling on Mr. President unwaveringly demanding him to come openly and also contest the 2027 general election as President so that he can finish the numerous projects ranging from  the Coastal Roads, to the Badagry Express Road and all the ones from Calabar down here, we are also beneficiaries.

“The road from Onne expanded down here. I don’t think there is anybody in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that can come out to contest against him and I’m challenging all the people in the PDP that I belong, if you like, you can do another letter and call it letter of invitation. I will not appear because I am totally supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Hailing Wike for his impressive performance as minister, Mpigi said the people of Ogoni and Oyigbo would continue to support him.

He said: “I want to thank our leader, the most respectful, most performing Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, and to say because of him we are gathered here. At any point in time Ogoni and Oyigbo belongs to you and will continue to belong to you.

“But let me warn regarding the disturbing incident that happened at Eleme today. Today must be the last. Unfortunately, I wasn’t around but the next time it happens, we will return it to them.

Akawor said since the Ijaw people in the senatorial district had segregated themselves from the upland, they would  make a statement that would change the political history of the state in 2027.

Giadom, All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (South), thanked Wike for uniting the Ogoni and Oyigbo.

He said the last time a major political party in the country gave an Ogoni/Oyigbo man thd opportunity was in 1983 when Chief Kemte Giadom ran on the platform of the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP).

 Senator Olaka Nwogu, who described Wike as the undisputed leader, queried the destruction of properties at the venue of a peaceful assembly in Eleme by hoodlums.

 He advised the people to embrace peace and unity to achieve their dreams.

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the only way to survive economic downturn in tne country is to stop activities of oil thieves and increase daily production of crude oil.

Fubara called on the newly deployed state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Joachin Okafor, to double the corps’ war against economic sabotage to meet up with the Federal Government’s projected increase of crude oil output of two million barrels per day.

Fubara, who spoke at the weekend when Okafor led a team of senior management officers of the command to pay him a visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt, insisted that only increased daily production of crude oil would save the country’s economy.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), NSCDC, Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele, said the Governor promised to support the corps to eradicate all forms of economic sabotage in the state.

Addressing the commandant, Fubara said: “Our duty is to support you in order to carry out your statutory duties effectively; this is because it impacts us positively. Crude oil theft affects the economy because the quantity of oil production determines the 13 percent oil derivation. I am happy with your achievements upon your assumption of duty; It shows you are serious and we will support you.

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“Rivers State is a special place with its emerging challenges but the acts of environmental degradation and pollution through human activities which also contributes to climate change is a critical issue to be addressed. 

“Your primary assignment is to tackle the menace of illegal oil bunkering as we have also promised Mr President to map out all strategies in combating illegal dealings in petroleum products in Rivers state.

“Nigeria can only be free from the shackles of economic downturn if our daily production of crude oil increases; in the next six months we might be in serious situation because there is no economic formula that can save us except we increase production by stopping vandalism of pipelines and stealing of crude oil.

“We have projected two million barrel per day so you have to work very hard. God did not make a mistake sending you to Rivers state: therefore justify your corps mandate in the fight”.

Fubara lauded the NSCDC Commandant-General for deploying an experienced and operational commandant to the state saying God had not made a mistake to bring Joachin to Rivers.

The Governor said Joachin must justify the corps’ mandate through the fight against crude oil theft especially as the NSCDC remained the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructures federal and the state government 

Crisis is brewing in Rumueme Kingdom in Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt capital city following the recognition of Ndamzi Nsirim as Nyenweli and Paramount Ruler of the area by the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.

The governor on Wednesday presented certificates of recognition and staff of office to two first class traditional rulers in Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the State in Government House, Port Harcourt.

His Majesty, King Ndamzi Nsirim, Nye Nwe-Eli Rumueme Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, was one of the monarchs recognised by the governor as a first class king.

Fubara said the government was only officially recognizing what their communities had done through the traditional process of selection and installation.

But the Rumueme Council of Chiefs, Elders and Owhor Holders in a well-attended meeting rejected the recognition.

The Rumueme Council in a position paper signed by their Chairman, Chief George Ihunwo and Secretary-General, Chief F.A. Wokeh said Nsirim was wrongly presented to the governor.

They said: “Ndamzi Nsirim in whatever capacity as wrongly presented to His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara has never, was never coronated in any capacity to be the Paramount ruler of Rumueme kingdom in keeping with the judicial decisions up to the Supreme Court which rightly vests the traditional Authority of Rumueme kingdom in the Rumueme Council of Chiefs, Elders and Owhor Holders.

“The Rivers State government is aware of these judgments that clearly nullifies and voids any capacity of Ndamzi Nsirim to be the Paramount ruler of Rumueme kingdom under any title or guise.

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“Ndamzi Nsirim and those who smuggled him into the Rivers State government House for the purported issuance of Certificate of recognition and Staff of office are unknown to Rumueme people as they lack the mandate or authority of Rumueme kingdom to do so, hence they are imposters.”

They urged Governor Fubara to withdraw what they described as the illegal recognition and urged the governor not to allow over-ambitious characters to cajole him and portray him as a bias and mis-exercising his lawful powers.

The council of chiefs said: “The chieftaincy tradition of Rumueme kingdom and the Judgments on High Court suit No:- PHC/293/92  ,Appeal Court Suit No:- CA/PH/25/99 and Supreme Court of Nigeria Suit No:-SC/460/2010 must be complied with in this case.

“We are happy with the creation of First Class Stool in Rumueme Kingdom by the outgone administration but Rumueme Council of Chiefs, Elders and Owhor Holders whom traditional authority is vested on frown at the impunity of the Rivers State Government selecting an occupant to the stool.

“It is on record that the decision of the state government has been challenged in the court awaiting the interpretation of the court. The action of the governor undoubtedly was ill-advised albeit misleading.

“Thus we urge His Excellency, our own dear governor, a peace-loving man who is a beneficiary of the judiciary, in keeping with his avowed commitment to the rule of law to do the due diligence and correct this travesty as it may amount to a Contempt of Court and subjudicial.

“Hence His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara should as a statesman rise to do the right thing by reversing this false recognition of Nnamdi Nsirim because it is a stolen title that he is now brandishing since that you cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand.”

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the 27 House of Assembly members yesterday resumed their hostilities.

The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, described the recent appointments made by the governor as illegal.

The lawmakers, who sat at their chamber located at the Auditorium of the Legislative Quarters, condemned the appointments of the chairman and members of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.

They said the law has no provision for such agency.

A statement by the Speaker’s Special Assistant on Media, Martins Wachukwu, said the condemnation followed a report by the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Gerald Oforji.

In the report, the committee said that such an agency, if properly established, would create a conducive climate to attract and grow businesses in the state.

But the report regretted the absence of any law known to the Rivers State House of Assembly, establishing such an agency.

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The committee maintained that if such law existed, the individuals nominated would have been subjected to screening and confirmation by the House of Assembly.

 Relying on the findings of the committee, the lawmakers said the governor, in the exercise of his powers, had relegated decency in governance to the background.

Amaewhule maintained that Fubara’s action was condemnable; pointing out that he has acted in defiance of extant laws and the 1999 Constitution.

The Speaker said the governor’s action constituted misconduct, adding that the infraction cannot be glossed over.

Amaewhule recalled a similar action by Fubara when he appointed some persons into the Board of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) and other appointments without regard to the provisions of extant laws guiding such appointments.