The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday issued a 7-day ultimatum to the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to represent his faction of the assembly, the 2024 appropriation law currently being implemented by the government.
The house warned that further delay by the governor to accede to their ultimatum would be interpreted as constitutional breach, which constitutes gross misconduct and abuse of office.
The ultimatum is coming on the heels of the confusion in the state over the interpretation and application of the Court of Appeal judgment on the status of Martin Amaewhule and 25 others of his pro-Wike members of the state House of Assembly.
The assembly gave the ultimatum at its 1st Legislative Sitting of the Second Session of the Tenth Assembly, on Monday after deliberating on the actions and inactions of Gov. Fubara which they averred were in breach of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, extant laws and judgments of competent Courts of Law.
In a statement by Martins Wachukwu Special Assistant On Media Martin Amaewhule the legislators “called the attention of Gov. Fubara to the fact that he is yet to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill of the State to the duly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly in line with the provisions of Section 121 of the Constitution and in compliance with the judgement of Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court”.
The House, therefore,” resolved to give the Governor 7 days from the date of the Resolution to present the Appropriation Bill to the House.
“The House also drew the attention of Gov. Fubara to his breach of Section 192(2) of the Constitution wherein he swore-in purported members of the State Executive Council as Commissioners as well as a breach of Section 7 (1) of the Constitution and the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023, wherein he again swore – in certain unelected individuals to manage the affairs of the 23 Local Government Councils in the State, in flagrant disobedience to the Constitution and judgement of Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court”.
According to the statement “the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule decried a situation where the Governor in total disregard to the Constitution and judgements of Courts transacts Legislative business with three suspended members of the Assembly, who parade themselves as House of Assembly of the State”.
He stated that the purported screening and confirmation of Commissioner – nominees for appointment, Caretaker committees and other approvals by the three members of the parallel assembly have been declared null and void by the recent Court of Appeal Judgement, adding that the Governor is and his co-travelers are in contempt of the orders of the court.
He therefore called on Gov. Fubara “to do the needful without further delay as these constitutional breaches constitute gross misconduct and abuse of office. Earlier, the Leader of the House, Hon. Major Jack had presented the judgement of the Court Appeal to the House”.
Fubara had previously presented the budget to the other House loyal to him, with his current Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, presiding as Speaker.
Ehie and the pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates, which the governor then signed into law, stating then, that it aimed to promote economic development, inclusive growth, and address socio-economic inequality in the state.
Meanwhile, also on Monday the Rivers State House of Assembly- led by Victor Oko-Jumbo screened and confirmed Barrister Emmanuel Onengiye-Ofori Frank-Fubara as a Commissioner-designate.
The clerk of the house was later directed to communicate the confirmation of the commissioner-designate to the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for possible swearing-in as a member of the State Executive Council.
The screening and confirmation followed a letter sent by Governor Fubara to the Speaker, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, requesting that the house confirm Barrister Frank-Fubara as a Commissioner to serve in the Rivers State Executive Council.
Rt Hon. Oko-Jumbo, in reading the letter during plenary at the temporary facility used for Legislative business in Port Harcourt on Monday, said Governor Fubara sent the request pursuant to Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, requesting that the nominee be confirmed for swearing in into the State Executive Council.
Another statement signed by Dr G. M. Gillis-West Clerk Rivers State House of Assembly said the House later reverted to the business of plenary where they opened debate on two bills: the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024; and the Rivers State Transport Company Reform Bill, 2024.
With votes taken, the House passed the two bills through a second reading and committed them to committee stage to allow for further detailed examination with instruction to conduct public hearing and report outcome to the House in the next two weeks.
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