Rivers crisis: Hope rises as Tinubu brokers truce between Fubara, Wike in Abuja

Ibrahim Quadri and Emmanuel Nlewedum, Port Harcourt

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intervened in the political crisis in Rivers state thereby raising hope of peaceful resolution of the issues at stake.
This was revealed by the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, while speaking with State House, Correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday.
The President’s mediation followed the crisis that rocked Rivers state on Monday during a failed attempt by 24 members of the State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Governor of Mohammed briefed State House Correspondents after the maiden Police Council meeting under the Tinubu administration, where Kayode Egbetokun was confirmed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He disclosed that the President engaged in discussions with both Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), minister, Nyesom Wike, who is alleged to be behind to plot, to restore peace in the state.
Both men attended the Police Council meeting, which comprises 36 governors and the Minister of the FCT.
Mohammed said: “We had a closed session. You will recall, members of the press, where a very serious national issue was discussed that has security implication. That is the problem emerging in Rivers. Mr President, in his usual leadership position, intervened and it would appear there will be peace in that respect.”
Fubara and Wike (who incidentally wore white kaftan) were seen outside the Council Chambers of the State House, shaking hands.
Some of the governors as well as Wike and the National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, were sighted as they engaged in an aside discussion while others engaged in exchange of banters.
Thereafter, Wike proceeded to shake hands and briefly exchanged pleasantries with Fubara after he had disengaged from the NSA.
However, the security personnel present throughout the men’s interaction prevented journalists from taking any still or moving images of the event.
The plot to impeached the governor was foiled by his loyalists who stormed the assembly complex in protest against the move on Monday.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Government, RSG, has dismissed the reported sack of the state Chief Judge, Justice Chibuzor Amadi, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Chidi Amadi and the Government House Chief Security Officer, CSO, Promise Wosu by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday also described the alleged sack of all 24 local government Chairmen in the state by the governor as untrue.
The news of the sack of the mentioned government officials went viral on different sections of the media following a political crisis involving Governor Fubara and his godfather and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike yesterday.
The cdisis resulted to a failed impeachment attempt on the governor by some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by ousted speaker of the house, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaehwule and burning of the hallowed chamber of the state assembly.
The speaker, Amaehule, was later impeached by 26-Fubara lawmakers, with the house leader, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie elected as the new speaker of the house.
But the Information and Communication Commissioner in his statement said he was yet to receive any such official directive on the sack of the State officials.
“There had been unfounded reports making the rounds on various media platforms about His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, sacking certain categories of his aides and local council chairmen.
“This is to clarify that His Excellency has not given me such directive as the official spokesman of the State government as at today Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
“Our dear governor is a technocrat, with robust civil service background, kind hearted and a very humane person who does things according to laid down rules and with the fear of God.
“We therefore ask Rivers people and the general public to jettison such unconfirmed reports as the public will be properly informed of who may have been removed by His Excellency at the appropriate time.
“It is pertinent to note that as the Commissioner for Information and Communication, I shall keep the public updated of events in due course.,” he said.

.Lagos Assembly condemns alleged interference of legislative proceedings

Meanwhile, Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday condemned the burning of the Rivers State legislative chamber, noting that the independence of legislature should be made paramount as enshrined in the constitution.
This was the hallmark of Tuesday’s plenary where members also condemned the alleged interference of the executive arm of government in the affairs of the state legislature, saying that the constitution guarantees the independence of the legislature.
The Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who presided at the sitting, described the situation in Rivers as sad and heartbreaking.
“Our security agents should also ask questions because the Rivers Assembly is on the same street as the police command in the state. The parliament is the life of democratic government,” she noted.
Also, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who called in from an official trip outside the country, urged President Bola Tinubu to call on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reopen the parliament and protect the lawmakers while they perform their duties.
Obasa said the parliament must not be made a victim of political crisis among gladiators as witnessed in Edo, where the roof of the chamber was removed by the governor, and other states where such had happened in the past.
“The constitution must be adhered to at all times. Since the crisis started in the office of the governor, then there is no reason to lock up the Assembly. Even if the lawmakers have issues, they should be allowed to resolve such among themselves without interference from the executive arm.
“The removal of the sitting Speaker behind the door should not be tolerated because it is against the constitution. While we understand that impeachments are democratic, the constitutional procedures must be followed whether for a Speaker or a governor.
“Where did the lawmakers have the sitting where the Speaker was removed and at what time did the sitting hold? How many members voted against the sitting Speaker? The Rivers governor, in saving his neck, must not sacrifice the House of Assembly or turn the legislators against themselves.
“Again, it should be of note that a governor has no power to remove the Chief Judge of a state without the two-third support from lawmakers. Just as the office of the governor or Chief Judge cannot be sealed up, a House of Assembly should not be sealed up,” he said.
Obasa called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas of the House of Representatives to urgently intervene to protect the Rivers Assembly and its members.
Members of the House also called on the governor of Rivers State, Fubara, to adhere to the constitution by not meddling in the affairs of the House just as they further urged the Senate and the House of Representatives to rise up to the crisis.
The House urged the chairman of the Conference of Speakers, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, to collaborate with his colleagues to condemn the act and fast-track the process of ensuring autonomy for state legislatures.
Raising the issue under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, Hon. Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency 1, said the attack on the chamber was an attack on the sanctity of the parliament, which is very important to democracy.
“How was a new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly elected? If due process was not followed, we have to condemn it.
“The crisis in Rivers did not emanate from the House of Assembly, so why should it be burnt or closed down?” he asked.
Speaking on the issue, Deputy Majority Leader Richard Kasunmu said reports had it that the governor stormed the House just as he wondered how the new Speaker emerged from a faction of just eight members.
While noting that the Lagos State House of Assembly has always led by example, he expressed worry over the safety of the mace, which he described as the symbol of authority.