Politics
Speaker Harps On Good Conduct
The Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) held only one Plenary Session last week.
The Session which was held last Tuesday at the hallowed chamber of the Assembly commenced with the consideration of two separate letters sent to the House by the Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The letters which were read by the Speaker of the Assembly Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani requested the confirmation of Commissioner-nominees submitted to the House in line with Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Ibani also reads a letter requested the approval of the House for the state Governor to appoint 23 Special Advisers pursuant to Section 196 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
However, the Assembly confirmed all the nominees after grilling them one after the other.
The House also screened and confirmed a one time commissioner in the state, Rodaford LongJohn, whose name was later added to the pack on the floor of the House.
The Assembly further gave its nod to the Governor’s request to appoint 23 Special Advisers to assist him in the running of the affairs of the state.
The commissioner nominees, who made the list include Barrister Emma Okah, Charles Nwogu, Walter Ibibia, Dr Tamunosis Gogo-Jaja, Ukel Oyaghiri and Isaac Kamalu.
The rest are Damiete Albert Miller, Boma Iyaye, Emeka Onowu, Prof Princewill Chike, Elder Tasie Chinedu Nwobueze, Barrister Sylvanus Nwankwo and Kaniye Ebeku.
Meanwhile, Okah, Ibibia, Oyaghiri and Kamalu were former Commissioners for Housing, Water Resources, Women Affairs and Budget and Economic Planning respectively.
Similarly, Ebeku, Iyaye, Miller and Onowu were also in Wike’s former Cabinet.
Speaking after the confirmation session, the Speaker said the lawmakers acted in compliance with the provision of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He directed the Clerk of the House, Chief Standford Oba to forward letters of confirmation and approval to the office of the state Governor for Swearing-in.
At the same plenary, Ibani warned that the Assembly leadership would no longer tolerate unguarded utterances of any member likely rubbish the name of the 8th Assembly in the state.
He said, the House by next its plenary session, will restructure House Committee on Ethics and privileges to carry out its over-sight function on any member who drags the name of the Assembly in the mud.
Last Friday, the House Committee on Information denied allegations by an APC Chieftain in Emohua Local Government Area, Mr Mtata Mtata that each PDP member in the Assembly collected N30 million from Governor Nyesom Wike to clear the 13 Commissioner-nominees recently screened in the House.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Samuel Ogeh said the insinuation was baseless and larked substance.
Ogeh, who also the lawmaker representing Emohua Constituency said Mtata should not be taken seriously, explaining that the APC Chieftain was only making nosie to make himself relevant to APC leadership.
He said there was no time any member of the legislative arm collected money from any person to screen and clear any appointee by the state governor.
The Assembly’s Information Chairman further explained that screening and confirmation of nominees are statutory legislative that do not require financial inducement of any kind.
According to him, the Commissioner-nominees were duly screened in accordance with the provision of the law and the House was divided with majority of the lawmakers including APC lawmakers to confirm and clear the nominees as commissioner designates.
He called on the general public to disregard the allegation, saying the APC leader in Emohua does not understand anything about legislative business.
Enoch Epelle
The Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Darlington Oji, has disclosed that about 15 Special Advisers to the governor were duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly before the current political crisis in the State.
Oji made the disclosure in a Television programme in Port Harcourt, recently, while reacting to issues surrounding appointments, the impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy, and allegations of financial mismanagement.
He clarified that the appointment of Special Advisers was carried out in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, and received the approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, before the crisis began.
According to the Special Adviser, the appointments did not require any further screening, countering claims that the governor violated due process in constituting his advisory team.
On the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, Oji described the process as unfounded and lacking constitutional backing.
He said that several lawmakers who initially supported the impeachment move were now reconsidering their stance after discovering that the process had no legal basis.
Oji also attributed the impeachment plot to personal and political ambitions, saying it is not motivated by the interest or welfare of the people of Rivers State.
Speaking on the financial position of the State after the Emergency Rule, the Special Adviser disclosed that the governor met about ?600 billion in the state’s coffers upon assumption of office.
He explained that the availability of funds enabled the administration to continue governance smoothly without the need for a supplementary budget.
The governor’s aide also refuted allegations of financial mismanagement against the governor, and stressed that all allocations to lawmakers and constituency projects were transparently handled.
He maintained that the Fubara administration remained focused on development, stability, and good governance despite the political distractions in the State.
Oji expressed confidence that the impeachment moves would eventually be abandoned as legislators and the public become more informed, adding that the governor’s leadership has continued to reassure citizens and sustain political stability in the State.
King Onunwor
Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.
“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.
“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.
The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.
“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.
“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.
PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, January 10, Chief Sara-Igbe alleged that the minister had flouted regulations governing the commencement of electioneering campaigns by moving from one local government area to another to galvanise political support.
According to him, the action amounted to a clear breach of electoral guidelines being carried out with a troubling sense of impunity that could undermine the rule of law.
“Wike has violated the electoral laws of campaigning by going from local government to local government to talk to the people. He travelled from one local government to another. As a result of his visits to local government areas, he has broken election regulations and continues to do all these things without fear of repercussions”, Chief Sara-Igbe said.
The remarks came as Chief Wike was set to round off a state-wide “thank-you” tour that covered all 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Although the minister had described the tour as an appreciation visit following support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, critics say the engagements have assumed an overtly political character.
Observers note that during several stops, including recent visits to Andoni and Bonny local government areas, the minister rallied supporters across party lines under what he termed a “Rainbow Coalition,” a move widely interpreted as part of a broader political strategy.
During these engagements, Chief Wike was also reported to have made remarks perceived as a veiled challenge to the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while repeatedly referencing the 2027 elections and urging supporters to prepare to “correct the mistake” of 2023.
Chief Sara-Igbe warned that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and called on relevant authorities to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.
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