Suspense and suspicion enveloped the political space, especially Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday, following a letter signed by the Secretary to State Government, Tammy Danagogo, on behalf of Governor Siminalayi Fubara inviting Speaker Martins Chike Amaewhule and 26 lawmakers to a meeting at the Government House.
According to Danagogo, Fubara’s letter came after it claimed to have received the Certified True Copies of the February 28 Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers political imbroglio.
But rather than douse tensions, the camp of Speaker Amaewhule saw booby traps in the governor’s sudden invitation after shunning invitations by the same Assembly to re-present the disputed budget.
*He should just implement Supreme Court judgment rather than this hide-and-seek
A lawmaker, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorized to speak, said the lawmakers are unlikely to honour the invitation because, “it is suspicious”.
“The reasons he gave for the invitation did not add up. First, he released a statement from his SSG via Facebook yesterday afternoon. He should have signed it since it was communication from one arm of government to another.
“Secondly, he doesn’t need to call a meeting to pay salaries and allowances he illegally withheld. He also said in the letter that we should come and discuss suitable sitting places for the Assembly. The truth is, have we not been sitting? Who pulled down the Assembly Complex?”
The lawmaker said the governor was buying time for whatever game he might be up to.
“My candid advice is for him to stop this hide-and-seek, obey Supreme Court judgment, and present the budget, among other directives,” he said.
The apex court judgement delivered on February 28 was unequivocal in declaring Amaewhule and the 26 lawmakers as the only authentic Rivers State House of Assembly. It ordered the governor to re-present the 2025 Budget to the Assembly because what it had done amounted to “executive lawlessness.”
It also declared the recently held local government poll a sham and sacked the products (LG chairmen) from that election.
Following the judgement, Governor Fubara immediately relieved the ex-local government chairmen of their positions and appointed Administrative heads to take over. He directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct local government polls quickly.
These actions did not sit well with the Amaewhule-led Assembly, which has seen in Fubara’s actions a way to sidestep the Supreme Court’s judgement.
*Gov seeks meeting on withheld salaries, Assembly’s sitting venue, re-presentation of budget
Yesterday’s letter of invitation to the lawmakers by Fubara had a three-point agenda: payment of withheld salaries to the ‘opposing’ lawmakers, Assembly sitting venue, and presentation of the 2025 Budget as ordered by the Supreme Court.
However, expectations that the invitation letter would douse tension have opened another vista of squabble, as the Assembly members do not believe the governor is altruistic in his desire for a peaceful resolution of the impasse.
An ex-Assembly member in Rivers State, Samuel Ogie, said in an interview with Channels TV yesterday that the governor has been selective in carrying out the orders of the apex court judgment.
“He did not wait for CTC to sack local government chairmen but said he was waiting for the CTC of the judgment to re-present the budget. How do you trust such a man?”
The letter was in bad taste to him and may not yield anything positive. “The governor should have written and signed the letter, not delegating it to his aide.
However, an ex-information Commissioner, Ibim Semenitari, also interviewed on Channels TV, said Fubara’s olive branch was sincere.
He added that the governor had shown good faith by asking the council chairmen to stay away from the councils.
According to her, Rivers should come first.
On the 48-hour ultimatum given by the Assembly to Fubara to present the 2025 budget, which has long expired, Semenitari said, “For me, the peace and sanctity of Rivers are paramount.
According to her, Fubara’s letter indicated that peace was finally coming. “Everyone in Rivers wanted peace,” she said.
While the back and forth continues, what is certain is that the battle may be far from over.
