• Rivers elders throw weight behind Gov Fubara
The government of Rivers State has said that a notice of stay of execution of the Appeal Court judgment has been filed against Martins Amaewhule and other pro-Wike lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
A statement by D.I. Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Rivers State Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, said Amaewhule and his colleagues remain former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly following their resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the Rivers State Attorney General, the matter before the Appeal Court was not the status of the lawmakers but whether the National Assembly by virtue of the crisis in the State Assembly then, could take over the Legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The statement of the government reads in full:
“Today, the 10th day of October 2024, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division dismissed Appeal No. CA/ABJ/133/CS/2024 filed by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division in suit No. FHC/ABJ/133/CS/2023 delivered on the 22nd day of January, 2024.
“It is important to state the facts and history of the case and the appeal thereof.
“On the 30th day of October, 2023, after the failed attempt to impeach His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly became polarized into two factions. The faction led by Martin Amaewhule proceeded to the Federal High Court, Abuja Division and filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1613/CS/2023, on the 29th day of November, 2023.
“Subsequently, on the 11th day of December, 2023, Martin Amaewhule and others defected from the Peoples Democratic Party that sponsored their election in the 2023 Legislative Assembly Election, to the All Progressives Congress.
“By operation of Law, particularly Section 109(i) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Martin Amaewhule and 26 others automatically lost their seats as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 11th day of December, 2023, as Section 109(1)(g) is self executory as no court order is required thereof.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State on the 13th day of December, 2023, presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, who was recognized as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly at the time. The Appropriation Bill was later passed into Law and became the Appropriation Law of 2024. An Appropriation Law is a state law within the purview of the High Court of Rivers State.
“Following the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly and the intervention by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that the parties withdraw their cases in Court, to allow peace reign, His Excellency the Governor of Rivers State obeyed the President’s directive and withdrew his cases and the processes he filed in Suit No FHC/ABJ/1613/CS/2023. Martin Amaewhule and others disobeyed the President and did not withdraw Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1613/CS/2023 and proceeded to obtain judgment against His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State.
“After the judgment of the Court of Appeal today, there is a gale of misrepresentation and misinterpretation that Martin Amaewhule & 26 others remain members of the Rivers State House of Assembly with Martin Amaewhule as the speaker thereof. This is patently false. The defection of Martin Amaewhule and 26 others was not an issue for determination in the Federal High Court, Abuja and the Court of Appeal. What was in issue was the 2023 Appropriation Law and the National Assembly taking over the Legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Dissatisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, His Excellency, the Governor has directed his lawyers to file an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court and also file an application for stay of execution of the judgment of the Court of Appeal. That maintains the status quo.
“Accordingly, His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State urges the good people of Rivers State to ignore the purveyors of fake news bent on misleading the good people of Rivers State.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum (RIVLEF) has declared its support for Gov. Siminalayi Fubara amidst the escalating political tensions in the state.
RIVLEF Chairman, Chief Rufus Ada-George, announced the forum’s position during a news conference on Thursday in Port Harcourt.
Ada-George praised Fubara for demonstrating courage and maintaining a peaceful stance despite unwarranted provocations by certain politicians in Rivers.
“We commend Fubara for his courage and determination in standing firm and resolute in defending the interests of the people of Rivers state.
“The governor, his team and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) have been bold in upholding democracy and democratic values.’’
Ada-George, a former governor of Rivers, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his interventions aimed at reducing political tensions in the state. He, however, criticised the president for allegedly failing to admonish the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his role in the crises.
“President Tinubu has called for peace and advised aggrieved political parties and individuals dissatisfied with the outcome of the local government elections to seek redress through the courts.
“However, the failure to mention Wike, a key figure in the political crises, sends the wrong signal.”
The chairman remarked that the battle for political structures and influence in the state was over, as the people had made their choices in the recently concluded local government elections.
He reaffirmed the forum’s trust in the law enforcement agencies’ ability to carry out their duties despite concerns over police partisan actions prior to the elections.
The forum’s membership includes prominent national figures such as retired Rear Adm. Ochegomie Fingesi, former member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council. Others are retired Group Capt. John Kalio, former Military Administrator of Yobe, Sen. Andrew Uchendu, foremost environmental and rights activist, Annkio Briggs, and Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, among others.
