.As P/Harcourt scheduled reconciliation meeting fails to hold
.. We ‘ll emerge stronger despite challenges Fubara assures Rivers people
EMMANUEL NLEWEDUM, Port Harcourt
The All Progressive Congress, APC, in Rivers State has advised Governor, Siminalayi Fubara to honourably resign from office or be impeached by the State House of Assembly.
APC Chairman in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, who gave the advice while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, alleged that Governor Fubara had committed too many impeachable offences.
He also accused the governor of disrespecting the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he attempted to proffer a solution to the political crisis in the state.
He said: “As a political party, we are advising the governor, there are two options available to him, he should resign honourably or be impeached. That is the position of the All Progressives Congress.
“The governor has committed many impeachable offences, and the offences are there. The Supreme Court has agreed and even provided us with more evidence, so, the House of Assembly does not need to set up any committee again to investigate him.
“48 hours is even too much to give him as an ultimatum. He should just resign honourably.
“He has ran the state aground. He has disrespected Mr President and we warned him, because we cannot be here and have him disrespect Mr. President. Let him resign because there is no government in Rivers State. He’s already sitting on a keg of gunpowder and a little spark it will explode,” he added.
Okocha also reacted to an invitation extended to members of the state House of Assembly by the governor through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, to a meeting in government House on Monday.
Recall that Rt. Hon. Martin Amaehwule and his 26 other colleagues loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike had, after the February 28 Supreme Court judgment which affirmed them as authentic Speaker and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly gave the governor a 48 hours ultimatum to represent the budget before it, and also invited the Chairman and Commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to appear before it.
However, the governor after receiving the CTC of the Supreme Court judgments, invited the lawmakers to a meeting at government house on Monday.
But Tony Okocha in his reaction, urged the lawmakers to ignore the invitation which he described as a “Greek Gift”, adding that the reasons given for the invitation is absurd, adding that the timing for the meeting was already belated and not within the ambits of the law.
He maintained that the Supreme Court judgement is sacrosanct and cannot be discussed. “Supreme Court judgement is sacrosanct as it is. There is nothing anybody can do, you can’t add or remove.
“If I were an assembly member, my answer to that Greek gift from the governor is that it is not within the armbit of the law, secondly, it’s already belated”.
He recalled that the APC had earlier offered some helping hands to the governor in the wake of the crisis but he refused, noting that those who urged the governor on have left him now.
Okocha applauded the 27 lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule for standing firm in their pursuit of the matter.
“I congratulate the 27 assembly members who stood their grounds. Not even the threat, not even the palpable hunger following their non-payment of salaries, they were not deterred so we need to commend them as the face of modern democracy in Nigeria,” the party chairman said.
However, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that despite the ensuing political circumstances against his administration, Rivers people will emerge stronger, eventually, urging the people to remain peaceful and law-abiding in the overall interest of the State.
The Governor, therefore, urged his teeming supporters, and indeed, well-meaning Rivers people, not to be disheartened by recent turn of events but rather cheer up, knowing that God does not start a thing by enthroning his administration, and allow it to be truncated half-way in the journey.
Governor Fubara spoke at the inauguration of the Palace of Nyeweali Akpor Kingdom and a magnificent residential quarters for the King, Eze Levi Amos Oriebe, built and furnished by the administration of Governor Fubara at Ozuoba in Obi/Akpor Local Government Area on Monday.
The Governor pointed to the ungodly motive of those who are pushing to disrupt governance by worsening the feisty political relationship, and insisted that his path will remain ensuring peace, and warned against any act of lawlessness.
He said: “I want to say to our teeming supporters, I know some of you; your spirits are high, some of you, your spirits are low. But, I want to assure you one important fact of life: God does not start a thing and end halfway.
“It doesn’t matter what the situation might be today, I assure you that we will come up again stronger and better. Continue to follow my footstep, and that footstep remains, the path of peace. We need it because if anything happens, we are the greatest losers.
“Our concern for this State is not because of our own profit, but the total well-being of Rivers State. So, I appeal to everyone of you: be law abiding. I will not encourage any act of disobedience or any act of violence. But that is not to say that we will support evil. We will never support evil.”
Governor Fubara said his administration is focused on good governance and will not renege on the promise of delivering impactful, people-oriented development projects, continually.
He said, “Our projects, our services will continue to be those ones that would touch the hearts, the souls, and the spirits of our people. And we will not, no matter the circumstances surrounding our situation, renege on that promise that we made to the good people of Rivers State.”
Commenting on the project, Governor Fubara considered it historic to have delivered a befitting palace for the Akpor Kingdom, being the first in over 200 years of its existence.
Governor Fubara explained that it was 10 months ago, during the flag-off of reconstruction work on the Okania-Ogbogoro Road project that he promised, in response to a request by the people, to build the palace, which has been achieved six months after it was awarded for construction.
The Governor said: “I was really touched to the point that I had a few drops of tears when the Royal Father was speaking, and he said, ‘for over 200 years that the Akpor Kingdom has existed, it functioned without a palace’.
“But, God doesn’t make mistakes. Maybe, He left it for our administration to fulfill so that we will be part of history forever and ever in Akpor Kingdom.”
Governor Fubara said further: “We did not just build the palace, but we also provided a personal residence for the Nyeweali, knowing fully well that the palace belongs to everyone, but at the end of his tenure or when call of nature comes, his family definitely, will not be here.
“So, after living in a fine beautiful place, what happens to the family? We have to provide a place for him. I want you to note that we did not end this project by building just the palace, but we went further to provide the Eze his own personal residence, so that when he leaves, he can enjoy the comfort that he is already enjoying here at this moment.”
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to Akpor people for the Chieftaincy title of “Eze Omenma 1 of Akpor Kingdom bestowed on him by the Nyeweali Akpor, assuring that he will defend it wholeheartedly while urging the entire Obio/Akpor people who have remained very supportive to know that they fill strategic place in his administration.
Performing the inauguration, Eze Oha Apara (IV), Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, His Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu-Wodo, recalled that a few months ago, he benefitted from the administration of Governor Fubara, a magnificent palace built for the Apara Kingdom.
Eze Worlu-Wodo, who is also the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, explained why the government is spending so much money to build palaces for traditional rulers, saying it understands that traditional rulers are closest leaders to the people.
He said: “Traditional rulers play vital roles in maintaining peace and orderliness in the communities, and by so doing, they Simplify governance at the State level.
“My friend and colleague from Calabar once said that respect for traditional rulers and elders shows good upbringing. Our Governor has good upbringing.
“I am glad to be here, Your Excellency, to witness your display of goodwill, respect and good intention for the traditional institution. Your Excellency, you have done well, and I must say, we are all proud of you.”
Eze Worlu-Wodo acknowledged the numerous developmental projects executed by the administration of Governor Fubara across the State, and urged him not to be worried by recent political developments in the State.
The Royal Father said: “God is in charge of this State, so, the machinations of the evil ones will not succeed in this State.”
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