Politics
Edison Ehie: Clearing The Doubts
I read with rapt attention an article on page 17 of The Tide Newspaper of 25th March, 2024, captioned: ‘”Can Rivers Assembly Remove Governor’s Powers To Appoint Executive Officers?” written by no less a personality than one of Rivers State’s renowned lawmakers, politician and youth leader, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogaranya Ehie who is also the Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House.
I am sure that the teeming supporters of the present administration, as well as members of the Simplified family in the 23 local government areas of the State including me, heaved a sigh of relief when the Chief of Staff used his legal expertise as a lawyer and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to explain through points of law, and citing precedence, the powers of the governor to appoint executive officers.
He did this to let the unsuspecting public know that the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers were simply doing the bidding of their paymaster(s) without reason when they attempted to strip the governor of his constitutional powers, leading to the heating up of political tension in the state.
Evidently, their aim was to distract the present administration. It was, therefore, cheering that this matter, which gained a lot of traction, was finally put to rest. Now, we know and I say a big thank you to the Chief of Staff.
Be that as it may, there are yet a couple of concerns troubling the minds of well-meaning Rivers people. Among the many unsettling questions that have welled up in most discerning minds are:
1. Why heat up the political atmosphere of a state you were given mandate by your constituents to lead for your paymaster(s) selfish reasons?
2. Is it not fool hardy for any responsible person to put his one and only state on fire?
Recall that until the macabre dance of these lawmakers, they were useful. The question then is what went wrong?
It has become crystal clear that with Rt Hon. Edison Ehie’s treatise that Governor Sim Fubara is God sent to unite this State, a detribalised and 21st century leader with peaceful deposition who operates within the Constitution and the rule of law in tandem with civilised realities.
The truth must be told that no governor with executive powers like Sim Fubara in Nigeria and elsewhere can tolerate the shenanigans being perpetrated by the pro-Wike lawmakers led by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaehule in Rivers State. It is a show of shame to even imagine that this set of lawmakers are bereft of the legal implications of their blunder in their inordinate quest to satisfy their godfather.
Though I stand to be corrected, I dare say that many of our lawmakers are lawyers. The question that arises then is: how come, were they not able to align their actions on this matter with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
According to the submission of Rt Hon. Ehie, what the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Thursday, 15th February, 2024, did at its 109th legislative sitting, viz; the law passed concerning the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024, was after all a nullity.
It would be recalled that the embattled lawmakers had earlier amended the law and sent to His Excellency, Sir Sim Fubara, for his assent. However, because the governor withheld his assent, the House decided to re-pass the bill into law after 30 days, on 22nd March, 2024.
Of course, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie supported his assertion by quoting relevant laws, cases and authorities to answer the burning matter and prove that the action by the pro-Wike lawmakers lacked the powers, legal and otherwise, to remove the power of appointment of the Chairman and members of the Rivers State of Assembly Service Commission from the Governor and vest same on themselves.
Contending that the provision in the Rivers State House of Assembly (Amendment) Law 2024 seeking to vest the power of appointment on the House of Assembly is in clear contravention of the 1999 Constitution and therefore a nullity in the eyes of the law.
This singular clarification by the Chief of Staff, Government House, makes me describe him as a round peg in a round hole. Rivers people and the teeming supporters of His Excellency through this publication of 25th March, 2024 now have a clearer and proper knowledge of the matter and affirm also from the case of Lord Denning that “if an act is void, then, it is a nullity. It is not only bad but incurably bad. There is no order of Court to set it aside. It is automatically null and void without much ado”. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there, it will collapse.
Rivers people cannot be deceived any longer on this matter. Up or down, victory is assured for the administration of Sir Sim Fubara. He is the leader we need to take us to the next level and no amount of intimidation can deter him from building on the foundation laid by the founding fathers of our great Rivers State. No one man can be God to our people but the Almighty God alone will be our God forever, as far as our State is concerned.
Odinaka Osundu
Osundu, a media professional, writes from Port Harcourt.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.
However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.
The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.
Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.
Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.
According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.
He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.
He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.
“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.
Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.
“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.
“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.
He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.
Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.
In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.
Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.
Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.
He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.
“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.
“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.
He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.
According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.
“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.
“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.
Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.
He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.
“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.
“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.
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