- National Assembly barred from taking over function
The Rivers State House of Assembly has got the nod to perform its legislative functions without let or hindrance.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ordered the lawmakers to hold plenary, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The court also restrained the Rivers State Government from withholding funds meant for the Assembly and barred the National Assembly from taking over its functions.
Also, the court presided over by Justice J. K. Omotoso restrained the Rivers Government from transferring the clerk, the deputy Clerk and any other employee appointed by the Assembly.
The lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, rejected moves by the police to stop them from gaining access to the Assembly complex where they held a valedictory session for their deceased colleague, Denobari Lolo.
Also yesterday, Governor Siminalayi Fubara vowed not to surrender his mandate to what he described as sabotage, intimidation and blackmail.
Agroup, the Movement of Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), lamented that enemies were stoking the crisis.
The Abuja court issued the orders restraining the state government, following a suit brought before it by the Assembly and the Speaker.
Defendants in the suit are the National Assembly, the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker, the House Majority Leader and the House Minority Leader.
Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State Commissioner for Finance, Rivers State Attorney-General, Rivers Civil Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police.
Ruling on the motion, Justice Omotosho granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.
The court observed that the affidavit in support of the motion exparte showed that more than two-third or 25 of the 31 members were sitting and transacting business.
The court said: “Rivers State House of Assembly is a constitutional institution that needs to be preserved pending the determination of the motion on notice”.
Consequently, the court issued an order of interim injunction restraining the first to 14th defendants from taking over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly or in any manner assuming the roles and functions or duties of the Assembly, pending the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction dated and filed November 29.
The court also issued an order “restraining the 11th to 14th defendants from withholding any amount standing to the credit of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the consolidated revenue fund of Rivers State, including salaries and emoluments due and payable to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other members of the first plaintiff as well as to the clerk, deputy Clerk and other members of staff of the House in any manner whatsoever denying the assembly of due fund for running it’s affairs pending the hearing of the motion on notice”.
The court said: “The above orders are made basically on the fact that the 25 members out of 31 Rivers State House of Assembly are sitting and transacting business, therefore, the plaintiff/applicants are hereby ordered to enter to undertake as damages to the tune of N1bn if it is discovered or established that less than 25 members or two-third of Rivers State House of Assembly are not sitting and transacting business as stated in the affidavit to support the motion”.
The court, in the copy of the order signed by its Registrar, Blessing Ugwu, adjourned further hearing till December 7.
I won’t surrender, says Fubara
Fubara said no amount of intimidation will make him surrender his mandate to serve, protect and advance the fortunes of the state.
He said he will not relinquish the mandate he received from the people due to blackmail, adding that he would follow the path of peace to halt the crisis.
The governor spoke when he declared open the 115 and 116 combined Quarterly General Meeting of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt.
Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to serve with humility, sincerity of purpose and accountability.
He said: “Although these are trying times, let us not forget that Rivers State is our collective inheritance, presently under my watch, to protect, defend and advance it as the governor.
“I assure you that I will neither fail in this responsibility nor will I surrender our mandate and progress to intimidation, blackmail and deliberate sabotage. I reaffirm my earlier statement and recommit myself to the path of peace as there is nothing to gain in a state of needless crisis.”
Fubara said drastic measures would be taken to strengthen education, healthcare and social services in the state, adding that next year’s budget will address the issues.
He said: “We will also take deliberate steps to unlock the entrepreneurial spirit among our teeming unemployed youths through viable initiatives on skills development, entrepreneurship training and targeted investments in commercial agriculture.”
Fubara urged traditional rulers to be upright, stressing that as royal fathers of integrity, they should not compromise their neutrality.
He also enjoined them to be courageous to speak truth to power to keep their moral authority and legitimacy intact before their people.
Fubara said: “We must all be worried about the plight of our youths, especially those in rural communities, most of whom are poor, neglected and almost forgotten in government’s development plans, policies, and actions.
“As we all know, no human society can progress without peace and security. I will therefore, urge you to continue to work tirelessly for the preservation of peace and security to attract sustainable development to your communities.”
The governor urged the people to have faith in the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the federal level.
He said President Tinubu has shown determination to pull the nation out of the prevailing economic nightmare and usher in a new era of sustainable economic progress.
The Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse, reiterated the Royal fathers’ support for the governor, saying that he is the best and trusted person to lead the state.
Ohna Awuse urged troublemakers fanning the ember of discord to desist and allow the governor to discharge the functions of his office.
Rivers State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Charles Amadi said his ministry will continue to maintain harmonious relationship with the traditional rulers and assist them in discharging their roles.
Enemies stoking crisis, says MOSIEND
MOSIEND attributed the crisis to the enemies of the state, advising them to desist.
Its President-General, Ambassador Kennedy Tonjo-West, who spoke in Port Harcourt, said these enemies fuelled the crisis instead of appealing to the gladiators to embrace peace.
Tonjo-West called for peace, tolerance and forgiveness between the two parties, warning that crisis would only destabilise Rivers.
He said any attempt to keep the state in perpetual crisis would discourage investors and deny the state of its benefits from the Federal Government.
He warned that the crisis could snowball into violent conflicts that can worsen the prevailing economic woes.
Drama at valedictory session
There was a mild drama at the Assembly premises as the police attempted to stop the lawmakers from gaining access to the Assembly to hold a valedictory session in honour Lolo from Khana Constituency 2.
But, the lawmakers resisted the move, insisting that the event should hold inside the Assembly.
Security was beefed up around the complex with over 15 patrol vans of armed policemen deployed in the area.
But after the initial hiccups, the lawmakers were allowed access to the complex for their 86th session, where they paid tribute to Lolo, who until his demise was the Chairman, House Committee on Environment.
The lawmakers acknowledged the intellectual doggedness and amiable disposition of Loolo, recalling that he contributed meaningfully at plenaries and committee meetings.
Amaewhule described the deceased as a lawyer, who brought his knowledge of the law to bear on his legislative duties.
He also described him as a humble and easy-going legislator.
Amaewhule recalled that Loolo deputized for him when he was a Majority Leader in the Eighth Assembly, adding that he handled the position with panache.
While describing him as legendary, the speaker who said he would be greatly missed by his colleagues, urged his family to take solace in God.
