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Tag: Rivers

  • Fubara’s wife urges Rivers people to pray for peace

    The wife of Rivers state governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, has called on the people of the state to pray for peace.

    Mrs. Fubara also promised that her husband would continue to give priority to issues of children and youths to make life better for them.

    She spoke at the maiden edition of the end of year party organised for children in the state,  which was held at Government House in Port Harcourt.

    She said: “As part of the determination of the present administration of Rivers State, under the guidance of my darling husband, the welfare and well-being of our children and other Rivers people are paramount.”

    Read Also: NAF hits six illegal oil refining sites in Rivers

    She urged parents to continue to devote quality time to nurturing their children to enable them grow into responsible citizens.

    She said: “As parents, we must continue to do those things that are right before God and man in bringing up our children for the benefit of the larger society. 

    “For us, we will continue to do our best to pray for peace in our State so that there will be accelerated growth and development for the benefit of the people.”

  • NAF hits six illegal oil refining sites in Rivers

    NAF hits six illegal oil refining sites in Rivers

     The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), says the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, on Dec. 23, destroyed six illegal oil refining sites in Opu Arugbana in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said the air strikes were in continuation of efforts to rid the Niger Delta region of activities of oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals.

    He said the illegal sites were sighted clustered within a radius of about 80 metres at a location about 6 nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana.

    According to him, having been  confirmed to be active, authorisation was obtained to destroy the six sites, thus discouraging the criminals from continuing with their acts of illegality.

    Read Also: How to identify adulterated products, by NAFDAC

    “In spite of the festive season, air operations against criminals in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country continue unabated.

    “The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has commended the efforts of the Air Component Commanders in all the theatres of operation.

    “Abubakar, who spent the Christmas day with troops in the Northeast and currently in Katsina to fete troops, called on them not to rest until criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Calming Rivers

    Calming Rivers

    President Tinubu‘s intervention should be seen as a chance for peace, not advantage

    The pact between the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara and the federal capital territory minister Nyesom Wike, has drawn a gratuitous controversy. The deal, brokered by the president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has brought, at least, a semblance of calm to a state that was turning into a quicksand.

    Some, including Edwin Clark, described it as unconstitutional. He and others of his bias have also seen it as giving former Governor Wike an upper hand in the balance of power between his forces and those of the sitting governor.

    This perspective comes from those who seem to profit from the turbulence. There is no doubt the two sides will benefit from this agreement. And there is no doubt that it is not a perfect deal. When there is dispute, resolutions are often delicate, and the two sides often have to find areas where they have to agree to work together for the greater good of both parties and others who will enjoy a balm of peace or suffer collateral damages. In this case, who will gain and suffer? The people of Rivers State, the rule of law and, of course, democracy itself.

    One of the early objections was the idea that the president should intervene. It was asserted that it was not in the interest of a federal system since states are not sons of the federal government but equal stakeholders. The governor does not report to the president. He reports to the citizens of his state. But that argument is misleading. It forgets that every citizen, whether in the state or local government or ward, is also under the constituency of the president. His is the only position, including the vice presidency, voted into office by every citizen in every part of the country. So, President Tinubu is a stakeholder in the state as much as the governor, even if the state is the immediate burden of the governor.

    Read Also; ‘The world is quiet while we die’ (3)

    So, President Tinubu has a stake in the peace and democracy of Rivers State. Second, other than the constitutional his obligation, the president should wield a paternal canopy over the country. This is not just what the law emboldens, but what our culture applauds. It is not a case of an interloper if he uses that soft power for the good of the state. That was what he did by requesting their meeting at the state house in Abuja where both parties as well as a former Rivers State governor and a man who projects an avuncular image in the state, Chief Peter Odili attended. There is nothing more noble than for a third party to seek as middle course in a conflict. It could be argued that since Wike is a member of Tinubu’s executive council, the president could show some bias for him. That is possible and inevitably human.

    But the agreement brokered has evinced a balance not seen by those who would rather have a storm. Prior to the pact, a number of things happened. One, the governor razed down the state’s symbol of democracy, the building of the state house of assembly. Two, he deprived the lawmakers of their constitutional financial entitlements. Three, he presented a budget to four men. Four, twenty-seven members of the house instituted an impeachment proceeding. Five, the same lawmakers defected from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Six, over half a dozen members of the Fubara cabinet voluntarily resigned. No doubt, the state was in turmoil.

    Some accused Wike of strong-arming his successor. Wike retorting by saying he did not, but he objected to Fubara’s embrace of the enemies of the group that made him governor. Others have asserted that Wike was making away with part of the state’s internally generated revenue. No evidence has been adduced, and Wike has denied any claim of financial blackmail.

    What is known with facts are the issues in the public domain, namely the ones that President Tinubu addressed in the meeting. An eight-point document was signed by both parties, and the highlights are now in the public sphere. The main issues were that Wike and his men should withdraw their impeachment case. The commissioners should return to their offices and the budget re-presented to the lawmakers. Fubara should also withdraw his suit against the 27 lawmakers. He should restore the elected members of the local government councils.

    Fubara signed this as well as Wike and chief Odili. Warmongers went to town with untruths and are trying to make the state restive by encouraging acts that contradict the constitution. At the beginning, one group claimed the governor signed it under duress, without evidence. Also without evidence, another group claimed Fubara did not sign it and the signature circulating from the meeting arose from impostors.

    Fubara has since debunked such claims and asserted that no price was too much to pay for peace. Without peace, development will paralyse. The flamethrowers who are organizing rallies and threatening to undermine constitutional order should be aware that a mob cannot upturn the law without anarchy.

    They forget that if the crisis festered without a pact, there was a real chance that Fubara could be edged out of office and replaced. That would not give comfort to come people, but it would be constitutionally valid. The quibble over whether the 27 defections have a place in law is a moot point, and the matter has not been defined in the courts. The last judgment on this matter favoured the 27. They have the numbers. By the deal, at least for now, Fubara can govern without a sword over his head. It is his choice to make peace with a people whose political family he was a member until about six months ago.

    The lawmakers also can now get their allowances and other constitutional entitlements that the governor denied them without any backing in law. The pact is a blueprint for peace, and provides both parties a new berth to work together.

    Recall that the president did same in Ondo State, but rather than fight, everyone is looking for ways to bring calm instead of qualms. Rather, the naysayers are saying it is a win for Wike and his men. They forget that a berth of peace allows the governor time to consolidate rather the option of being stormed out of power.

    The peace deal is an opportunity. It gives them an option for harmony among the elite in the interest of the people and progress in development.

  • Towards an enduring peace in Rivers

    Towards an enduring peace in Rivers

    The lessons of the political imbroglio in Rivers State are instructive. There was a clash of ego and a test of strengths. There was a display of bravado, war-mongering, ethnic vituperations, intra-party wrangling, threats, boasting, propaganda, prevarication, hate, and malice.

    In the state and beyond, there was apprehension about the fate of the people, who elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, to serve them.

    But there was also a mutual recognition of strengths and weaknesses on both sides and the collective acceptance of the fact that the soft landing provided by the pacifist leader and statesman, President Bola Tinubu, was the saving grace.

    The intervention was logical, tactful, urgent, timely, desirable, and face-saving. It may not be a perfect solution, but strict adherence to the pact may reduce mutual suspicion and create an avenue for the renewal of political contracts and cordial relations. Instructively, the President had restored peace in Ondo State between Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is now acting governor. The watchword is sacrifice. The elements are tolerance, accommodation, and mutual respect.

    As an implosion hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, the party’s Southsouth stronghold, its weak, scattered, petulant, ‘disarticulated’ national leaders were aloof; lacking the initiative to broker reconciliation and restore order to avoid further pandemonium. Yet, when the President decisively intervened in the political impasse, they uncritically labelled him as an interloper, a meddler, and a dictator, forgetting that the country has become his national constituency as the Commander-in-Chief and father of the nation.

    Conflicts characterise politics. That is expected. People in every party have different hopes, aspirations, and expectations. When there appears to be a shift in their expectations, they raise an eyebrow; when things seem to go the other way, they raise dust. Only the rational stay calm when things do not go their way in politics. Obviously, not all those in the political field are rational players.

    But dissensions among the players should not be allowed to fester. Where two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. A crisis is costly, and the road to violence is wide. Many are the gladiators who prefer to tread the path to destruction and doom. In contrast, peace is less expensive, although many combatants, more often than not, try to avoid the path to harmony. They prefer to embrace the option of war that is momentarily popular, even if it would ultimately lead to gnashing of teeth in the long run. Only a few men of wisdom would continue to drum into the ears of political warriors that violence is an ill-will that blows nobody any good.

    A war is not a tea party. It is not a picnic. Its end is unpredictable. The chaos is better imagined. Even, when it is finally curtailed, it creates an open wound. The scars may not heal for many years. It brings a memory of terror, horror, and lamentations. In the end, parties in the dispute, after much havoc has been done, are still compelled to gather at the table of brotherhood.

    At that stage, they reflect on their collective daftness and count their losses. Lives that have been lost cannot be brought back to life. Limbs that have been damaged cannot be replaced. Valuable property already destroyed cannot be reassembled. Friendship and fraternity are crippled. Trust is destroyed, aptly replaced by distrust and doubt. People are pacified, and they are urged to forgive. But can the sad encounter be forgotten? The psychological impact is confounding.

    Read Also: Rivers crisis: Stakeholders reject Abuja peace accord

    President Tinubu, being a visionary and prescient leader, might have calculated the havoc an escalated political tension might cause. His fatherly heart for the nation might have sunk at the thought of seeing some Nigerians throwing missiles at one another. He must have moved in to prevent a likely degeneration into full-scale violence and avert a looming disaster of monumental proportion. Such scenarios may have propelled him to intervene in the protracted rift between the two Rivers PDP camps, led by Governor Fubara and his predecessor and godfather, Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    In the past, a sitting President would allow such a situation to degenerate into complete chaos to justify the declaration of a state of emergency. President Tinubu is obviously not a lover of chaos.

    This period calls for sacrifice, which Governor Fubara has promised to make, judging by his remarks that no price is too much to pay to guarantee an atmosphere of peace in Rivers. Fubara is the luckiest man in Rivers of today; he is a man God has catapulted to the high table to direct the affairs and issue commands to the people he took orders from a year ago when he was the Accountant-General and a Permanent Secretary. He is expected to be firm, but humble in power, and use this God-given opportunity to unite his state, build on the achievements of his predecessors, and erect lasting legacies. These cannot be accomplished in an atmosphere of acrimony, hostility, and hullabaloo. This is also the time for the former governor and FCT minister to embrace the principle of self-abnegation.

    Priority should be accorded to the interest, welfare, peace, and survival of Rivers State by the two dissenting camps. For the resolutions to pave the way for tranquility, there should be an effective implementation of the pact. The major actors should be less inflexible and more condescending.

    The peace terms are quite challenging, no doubt. But they reflect the urgent need to ensure enduring tranquility. It appears to be a win-win formula, contrary to the insinuations by some armchair commentators that the deal pales into another Aburi Accord.

    What the resolutions suggest is that the two camps, which are products of a split structure, should come back and become one again. The first critical step, therefore, is to retrace their steps from litigations by withdrawing court cases triggered by the crisis. Nobody returns from court after a judgment and pretends to be a friend of the winner or loser. The withdrawal of the lawsuits is the beginning of a fresh confidence building, which has motivated the House of Assembly to halt the impeachment proceedings against the governor. An impeachment threat in itself is a bad omen, a manifestation of cracks and evidence of contradictions and discord in the structure and the party.

    Also, recognition of Amaewhule as the Speaker of the Assembly is inevitable. He was elected the leader of the 27 lawmakers, not Edison Ehie, the emergency Speaker of four lawmakers. It is up to legal pundits to suggest further ways out of the logjam given the subsisting controversial ex-parte injunction recognising the leadership of four over 27.

    There is another hurdle to cross. It is up to politicians to find a solution to the glaring reality of a PDP governor now working in critical partnership with the APC Speaker of an APC-dominated House of Assembly. Will the 27 lawmakers return to the PDP, or will the governor join them in APC? That the remunerations of the lawmakers and their aides should not be withheld is a practical step towards normalising Executive/Legislative relations.

    More importantly, the resolution that the governor shall henceforth not interfere in the full funding of the House of Assembly is a step towards legislative autonomy in genuine obedience to the principle of separation of powers. Such democratic liberty now entitles the lawmakers to choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference or hindrance from the Executive arm of government. This is because, as of now, the Assembly Complex has been demolished.

    Since the governor previously presented next year’s budget to only four lawmakers, a number that is exclusive, non-inclusive, and non-representative of the diverse Rivers constituencies, re-presenting it to the 31-member Assembly underscores a sense of realism. The governor may not go through the ritual of physical presentation or long speeches. He can forward the document to the Assembly with the understanding that due process is being followed.

    Also, the reappointment of commissioners and special advisers, who resigned because of the political crisis, will boost reconciliation. An acceptance of the resolution is not a sign of weakness by the governor, but a demonstration of a genuine desire for a truce.

    The eighth resolution is that “there should not be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers State. The dissolution of the local government administration is null and void and shall not be recognised”.

    What this implies is that signatories to the resolutions are clamouring for obedience to the 1999 Constitution, which states that a democratically elected local government system is fully guaranteed.

    May the combatants have the courage to implement the resolutions to the fullest. This is the major way the Rivers of conflicts and troubles could become the Rivers of harmony.

  • Rivers stakeholders reject peace document, vow to occupy state

    Rivers stakeholders reject peace document, vow to occupy state

    Peaceful protests rocked Rivers State on Friday, December 22, as groups from different walks of life and ethnic nationalities marched on the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital to register their displeasure against the Abuja peace deal that temporarily calmed the political crisis in the state.

    Hundreds of the stakeholders, who came from different parts of Rivers, vowed to occupy the state including critical Infrastructures from January 1st to 30th 2024 in opposition to any plan to honour any part of the resolution.

    They warned the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, against implementing any part of the peace document saying Rivers would not be enslaved by any individual.

    The protesters, who blocked the Government House in Port Harcourt said they would occupy the International Airport, Port Harcourt, Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, NLNG Bonny, SPDC facilities, Total E&P, Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, the East-West Road, the Federal Secretariat, the state secretariat, all markets and waterways.

    They said: “It is, therefore, the absolute resolve of the people of Rivers State and indeed the entire Niger Delta to resort to self-help by any non-violent means possible to ensure our dignity as a people is not trampled upon.

    “We, therefore, call on all Rivers people, indigenes and residents and the entire Niger Delta people to get prepared and ready to occupy Rivers State”.

    Read Also: Rivers political crisis and national security

    They described the resolution as a sham and national embarrassment saying it posed fundamental threats to the nation’s democracy.

    The protesters wondered why part of the resolutions barred Fubara from exercising his constitutional duties of constituting caretaker committees for local government areas while the APC-led government in Imo and Ondo states adopted the caretaker arrangement.

    They said: “A critical analysis of the purported resolutions reveals a barrage of illegalities and more so at no point was the interest of the good people of Rivers State mentioned or even accommodated”.

    They called on the Inspector-General of Police to probe an allegation that some security officers had been hired to unleash mayhem in the state.

    They said: “May we announce to the Executive Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, that Rivers State people massively voted him into the office and therefore cannot allow him to bring the people into disrepute by signing such agreement that is akin to selling our collective hegemony to one individual”.

    They argued that the seats of the 25 lawmakers, who defected to the APC would remain vacant adding that the 2024 Budget had already been passed and could only be altered by a judgement of the judiciary.

    Among those, who signed the position document of the protesters were leaders of the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Greater Wakiriki Movement (GWM), National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Rivers Youths Federation (RYF), Ijaw Young Professional Association (IYPA), ANDONI Youths Federation (AYF), Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), Niger Delta Activist Forum (NDAF), United Community Development Committee (UDCD) among others.

    Some of the leaders, whose signatures appeared on the document were Chijioke Inuwo, Levi Sam Okuru, Tamuno Kpokpo, Harrison Nwosu, Fubara Samuel, Inwoni Urang, Peter Ohochukwu, Chief Mike Amakiri among others

  • Rivers political crisis and national security

    Rivers political crisis and national security

    • By Nosa Osaikhuiwu

    Sir: The unfolding political drama in Rivers State poses deep and serious threat to public safety and our nation’s security. I could not disagree more with those criticizing the president for intervening to ensure peace and tranquillity reigns in Rivers State and Nigeria. The president is the chief security officer of the country with assistance from his national security adviser. The primary responsibility of this president or any president for that matter is to ensure the nation’s security, public safety, and security of lives and properties of Nigerians.

    Consequently, when taken in totality, the president’s action in pushing for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the political gladiators is the right thing to do and what is expected of the president and commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    While it may not the president’s constitutional responsibility to settle the political divisions within a major opposition party or between one of his ministers and a sitting state governor, given the likelihood of violence that could result and spill out of control, it falls within the president’s constitutional mandate as chief security and law enforcement officer of the nation to act.

    Already, some unpatriotic elements have dusted up their playbook and tribal cards by threatening to blow up oil pipelines, a threat that must be taken seriously by our security services as such threats and those behind them are advocating violence as a means to resolving political differences which is nothing, but advocating terrorism as a political instrument.

    Read Also: Yuletide: Don’t think of vacation this season, we’ve burden of Nigerians on our shoulders, Shettima tells NEC

    The presidency should continue its efforts and hold both parties to the terms of their agreement. It is worth mentioning that the ultimate test of the agreement brokered by the president would be how the state governor and his predecessor engage going forward on current and future issues affecting their state. Will they continue to engage offline directly on all matters affecting their state or will they allow sycophants, tribal gladiators and those with nefarious political agendas to stoke further divisions?

    I am heartened a bit by the statement credited to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, “that no price was too much to pay for peace”, and hope that former governor, Nyesom Wike will also commit to maintaining the peace in Rivers State at all costs while recognizing that there can only be one governor at a time. He should support his handpicked governor to ensure a peaceful development of his state.

    Fubara should deepen his engagement with his predecessor and carry out wider consultations with him to maintain peace in the state on major transformational actions by his government. 

    Besides, Fubara should communicate directly with his predecessor, not through third parties or surrogates. ‘ The FCT minister should prioritize his current portfolio to help the president deliver on his agenda and allow the governor to manage his state.

    Both of them should understand that the real power and sovereignty rests with the Rivers State indigenes, and they will have another crack to exercise this power in 36 months when the governor is up for re-election, so both must sheathe their swords.

    Finally, I would like to commend the president, his national security adviser and well-meaning indigenes of Rivers State that were part of this peace accord, for recognizing the threat that this issue could have posed to our nation and acting to extinguish it. The president should direct the national security adviser to continue and deepen further engagement between Governor Fubara and the former and Minister Wike to give this accord time to work.

    •Nosa Osaikhuiwu,

    Houston, Texas, USA.

  • Rivers crisis: We won’t return to PDP, says lawmaker

    Rivers crisis: We won’t return to PDP, says lawmaker

    Enemi George, one of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that he and others won’t go back to their former party.

    George revealed this during an appearance on “Politics Today” on Channels Television on Wednesday. 

    He said that the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu was the reason for the decision of 27 of them to join the APC.

    The lawmaker claimed that after voting for President Tinubu in the presidential election, they all decided he was deserving of their support.

    Read Also: Rivers Assembly withdraws impeachment notice against Fubara

    He said: “We have crossed the Rubicon. We have moved to the APC. We voted for the President, if we find Mr. President worthy of our votes then I think we should find him worthy of our support.

    “We have moved over to join his Renewed Hope Agenda to work hands in gloves with him to ensure that the expectations of Nigerians are fulfilled.”

  • Rivers arrests 10 suspects, impound 15 vehicles

    Rivers arrests 10 suspects, impound 15 vehicles

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Rivers State has paraded 10 suspects and impounded 15 vehicles linked to oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

    The command also deployed over 2,300 operatives to protect critical national assets and infrastructure before, during and after the Yuletide.

    State Commandant Basil Igwebueze, while parading the suspects, said the Anti-vandal Unit was working hard to curtail activities of oil thieves and vandals.

    He said: “The Anti-vandal Unit of the command arrested these 10 suspects and 15 vehicles were impounded altogether. These arrests were made possible through credible intelligence.

    Read Also: Rivers crisis: Fubara breaks silence after Abuja meeting, says no price is too much for peace to reign

    “On Evo road Pepperoni in Port Harcourt a suspect – Nse Friday (38) was arrested with a Toyota Corolla (RIVERS ABU 77 BB), conveying Automated Gas Oil (AGO) concealed in cellophane bags. Onyeka Michael (33) was also arrested while conveying AGO concealed in cellophane bags in a Toyota Camry (RIVERS BUG 301 XA).  “Others are white and blue caravan bus branded Entraco (BUF 301 XA) conveying over 1,000 litres of AGO; a blue Mazda 323 (Rivers AM 638 DBU) and a Toyota Camry (LAGOS APP 493 EJ), both conveying about 1,350 litres of AGO concealed in cellophane bags.”

    Basil added that following a sting operations at Iwofe axis in ObioAkpo Local Government Area, two vehicles carrying 1,300 litres of AGO were impounded.  

    “The same team proceeded to Elechi area in Port Harcourt City and impounded two Volkswagen Jetta (RIVERS AH 84 KHE), (ENUGU BU 47 ENU), and a Toyota Corolla (ONDO 392 AE); the three vehicles were carrying 1,700 litres of AGO concealed in cellophane bags”, he added.

  • Rivers crisis: Edwin Clark fumes, says purported resolution unacceptable, dictatorial

    Rivers crisis: Edwin Clark fumes, says purported resolution unacceptable, dictatorial

    Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, has condemned the terms of the resolution of the feud between Governor Sim Fubara and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

    The elder statesman said the resolution is unacceptable, particularly to the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

    Addressing the media on Tuesday, December 19, Clark said the eight-point resolution is undemocratic, dictatorial, and one-sided, aimed at handing over the political leadership of Rivers State to the former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.

    He said from the terms of the purported settlement, it is obvious that President Tinubu used his role as a mediator, to once again, show gratitude to the FCT minister for “delivering” Rivers state to him during the last presidential elections.

    Clark, who had earlier commended the president for intervening in the Rivers issue, however, threatened to take legal action against the resolutions.

    He said: “I, Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, as leader of the Ijaw nation, and as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), decided to hold this emergency press conference with the full authority of my people. We are prepared to face any consequences that may result in the political crisis in Rivers State.

    Read Also: Edwin Clark to Tinubu: intervene in Rivers political crisis

    “We will resist any attempt subtle, subterranean, covert, overt, to make an elected Ijaw son, Siminialayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, a servant, a stooge to Nyesome Wike, who had boasted that any attempt by the Governor to touch his so-called ‘Wike’s structure’, with the connivance and support of President Bola Tinubu, will be resisted by us.

    “Like I said, we will go to court to resist this oppressive action using all available constitutional and legal means. It is on this note I wish to appeal to the youths who are aggrieved, to remain calm, as we will use legal means to dethrone this hydra-headed monster, called oppression.  

  • Rivers crisis: PDP demands fresh polls to replace 25 defectors

    Rivers crisis: PDP demands fresh polls to replace 25 defectors

    The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for new elections to replace the alleged 25 vacant seats in the Rivers State Assembly.

    This was one of the decisions made during Tuesday’s NWC emergency meeting in Abuja.

    This was disclosed to reporters immediately after the meeting by Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, the party’s interim national chairman.

    He clarified that the purpose of calling the emergency meeting was to talk about the political changes that are taking place in Rivers State.

    Damagun noted: “25 former members” of the party had better prepare for fresh polls should they still be interested in returning to the legislature because there “is no remedy for them.”

    “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asserts that there is no remedy for the 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who by virtue of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), vacated and lost their seats by reason of defection from the PDP, the party platform upon which they were elected into the House of Assembly.

    “Our Party insists that, having now vacated and lost their seats, the only option available for the former lawmakers, if they wish to return to the House of Assembly is to seek fresh nomination and re-election on the platform of any political party of their choice in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

    “The 25 former Rivers lawmakers freely and without any cause vacated their seats, being fully aware of the consequences of defection from the party upon which they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly without the conditions stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.

    He further stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no division in the PDP at the national or any other level for that matter to justify the defection of the 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the Party.

    “They therefore vacated their seats for reasons best known to them and cannot return to the House of Assembly without passing through a fresh electoral process in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

    “Moreover, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon (Barr) Ehie O. Edison, DSSRS, officially declared the seats of the defected and now-former members vacant in line with Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    “The Rivers State House of Assembly, having become Functus Officio on the matter, cannot re-admit the former lawmakers unless through the channel of a fresh election.

    Read Also: Rivers Federal lawmaker under fire over attack on Wike

    “Our Party, therefore, counsels the former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly not to be deceived by anybody giving them the false hope and impracticable assurances in Abuja that they can return to the Rivers State House of Assembly without a fresh election or that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can be stopped from conducting fresh elections into the 25 Rivers State Constituencies where vacancies have occurred by reason of their defection.

    “For emphasis, Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022, is clear in providing that no court has the power to stop INEC from conducting elections wherever and whenever a vacancy occurs in any electoral constituency.

    “For clarity, Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022, provides that: “Nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general elections under this Act pending the determination of the suit.”

    He added: “The PDP demands that INEC should, in line with Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022, fix a date for the conduct of fresh elections into the 25 state constituencies in Rivers State where vacancies have occurred by reason of the defection of the now former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the determination of any suit in any court.

    “The national leadership of the PDP charges all members of our great party in Rivers State to remain united and resolute in the defence of constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Rivers State.”