The political crisis in Rivers State deepened yesterday.
The House of Assembly directed Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present fresh nominees for confirmation as commissioners and board members within 48 hours.
It also summoned the chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd).
He is to explain why he conducted the last council election that was voided by the Supreme Court.
This was after RSIEC fixed August 9 for a fresh local government election.
Justice Enebeli told stakeholders that the new date was in line with last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment, which nullified the October 5 poll.
Also yesterday, the state government responded to the earlier 48-hour ultimatum issued to Fubara by the House to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
The government said it was yet to receive the letter containing the summons.
The House of Assembly during plenary on Monday gave Fubara 48 hours to re-represent the budget.
But the state government, in a March 5 letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, said: “As at the close of work on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, we are yet to receive the said letter.
“Neither the office of the governor nor the deputy governor’s office, nor the office of the Accountant-General of the state has received the said letter.”
Reiterating the governor’s willingness to comply with the Supreme Court orders, the letter adds: “We have since been in contact with our lawyers, who are still awaiting the certified true copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court and hereby reassure you and all the good people of Rivers State that as soon as his Excellency receives the judgment, he will strive to implement same in the best interest of our people.”
The House wrote Fubara again yesterday, issuing him another 48-hour ultimatum to rectify what it called illegal appointments without the constitutionally required screening and confirmation.
In the March 5 letter, Amaewhule told the governor that he failed to forward the nominee for Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for screening and confirmation but chose to parade one Mr. Dagogo Iboroma as a member of the state executive council.
The lawmakers said the governor violated sections 192 (2 and 6) and 195 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
According to them, 19 persons have parading themselves and misleading Rivers people by claiming to be commissioners.
The legislators said Fubara committed another infraction of the law by inaugurating members of the Bureau on Public Procurement and Local Government Service Commission without screening and confirmation by the Assembly.
The lawmakers said: “These appointments by you that are highlighted and other appointments made but not mentioned here for want of space that are not in consonance with extant laws are not only infractions but are seriously threatening our nascent democracy, so should and shall be remedied.
“The House requests you to submit a list of nominees for appointment as commissioners into the Rivers State Executive Council as well as a list of nominees for appointment to fill vacancies in all the offices mentioned above or those not listed but required screening and confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly within 48 hours.
“We, therefore, urge you to act fast and do the needful by complying with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended and other extant laws in the best interest of the good people of Rivers State.”
The House asked Justice Enebeli to appear tomorrow.
The lawmakers said he conducted the voided council poll in defiance of a subsisting order of the High Court.
The House threatened to issue a warrant of arrest for him if he failed to honour the invitation.
The letter said: “You are requested to honour this summons with all your commissioners and relevant documents empowering you to spend any fund of the commission without an Appropriation Law from January 1st 2024 to date.
“Please, be informed that failure to honour this summon would leave the House with no options but to issue a warrant of arrest or invoke its powers as enshrined in Section 128 of the Constitution.”
Ijaw Youths issue warning
Also yesterday, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide expressed concern over threats to the administration of Fubara, who it called a proud son of the Ijaw nation.
In a statement by national spokesman, Binebai Yerin Princewill, IYC warned that the Ijaw would not tolerate any attempts to impeach Fubara.
It said the governor must be allowed to complete his tenure without interruption.
The statement reads: “In solidarity with the Ijaw National Congress (INC), we reaffirm that our historical struggle for liberation contributed to the foundation of Rivers State in 1967…
“The Ijaw people have played a crucial role as the political and economic backbone of Rivers State.
“As we stand behind Governor Fubara, we make it clear—there will be no compromise regarding his position.
“The Ijaw Youth Council will actively oppose any moves that threaten the governance of an Ijaw leader.
“We call upon all stakeholders, including the citizenry, political leaders, and civil society, to respect the democratic process and allow for the uninterrupted governance of Rivers State.
“Unity and collaboration among the ethnic groups in Rivers State remain vital for our collective progress.”
Elders weigh in
A former Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mike Okiro, called on warring parties to let peace reign.
Okiro, at a briefing in Abuja, recommended dialogue to resolve the crisis.
He said that he had engaged elders and traditional leaders to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
“We cannot sit down and watch the gladiators fight and make Rivers a no-go area. The state has contributed a lot to the economy of the country.
“Rivers is a symbol of our economic strength. We must embrace peace for national development,” he said.
He urged traditional rulers, elders, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders in the state to see reason and come together to engage the warring factions.
“The stakeholders should come together and meet the factions one-on-one to find a lasting solution to the crisis,” he said.
Also, a former member of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State, Israel Sunny-Goli, urged Fubara to exercise restraint in his utterances.
“I call on Governor Fubara to not only fully comply with the Supreme Court pronouncement recognising the Amaewhule-led Assembly but to also refrain from any actions or statements that could potentially ignite a crisis in the state,” Sunny-Goli said.(The Nation)
