- Vow to resist undemocratic directives
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has rejected the presidential directives on the political crisis in Rivers State.
The Forum announced the rejection of the peace agreement signed by the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Odu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nyesom Wike, and others, to resolve the political impasse in the state, at an emergency meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night.
The latest stance by the Forum came barely 24 hours after the members had met in the state capital, where they resolved among other points, that Rivers people would not accept any impeachment of the governor without clear explanation of reasons to the citizens.
At the last meeting, the Forum issued a communique signed by 20 eminent Rivers people, which included former governor Rufus Ada-George, former deputy governor, Gabriel Toby, Ibim Princewill, Anabs Sara Igbe, Senator Bennett Birabi and Annkio Briggs, said Rivers people were at a loss whether President Bola Tinubu’s intervention has solved the problem or escalated it.
The Forum said: “We recall that in our communiqué of 17th and 18th December, 2023, we urged Mr. President to intervene in the political crisis in Rivers State, for which we commended his prompt intervention between Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the Executive Governor of Rivers State. But, we are at a loss as to whether his intervention has solved the problem or escalated it.
“A review of Mr. President’s directives for the resolution of the political impasse in Rivers State showed that, the directives contravene the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which Mr. President swore to uphold at all times.
“The directives unilaterally suspended the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by virtue of an attempt to reverse a court order recognising Rt Honourable Edison Ehie as the speaker and directing that the remainder of members of the House of Assembly constituted the quorum for legislative business.
“That the directive also contravenes the hallowed doctrine and practice of separation of powers, particularly as it affects the responsibility of the judiciary.”
The Forum, however, asked: “Can Mr. President or the executive arm of government overrule the decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction? This portends executive rascality which undermines our constitutional democracy, rule of law and good governance.
The Forum maintained that the presidential directives to the parties were one-sided in favour of Wike, the FCT minister and at the detriment of the Governor Fubara and people of the state.
It argued: “In the eyes of the law and due process, as evidenced by the Rivers State High Court decision, that the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and his team have ceased to exist in the state House of Assembly having defected to another political party, and therefore, cannot be reinstated and remunerated through the back door.
“It is the duty of the executive arm of government to provide accommodation for legislators in a constitutional democracy as exemplified by the FCT Minister with respect to the National Assembly.
“It is, therefore, hypocritical to suggest, that the Rivers State House of Assembly under Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule could sit anywhere of their choice, whereas in Abuja, it is the FCT Minister, on behalf of the executive arm that provides accommodation for Federal Legislators. The very reason the FCT Minister was referred to as the ‘Landlord of Abuja’ by Mr. President at the presentation of the 2024 budget.”
According to the Rivers elders and leaders, the directive to re-present the budget passed and signed into law is a clear attempt to ridicule and denigrate the office of the governor, Rivers people and the judiciary.
The Forum continued: “In public administration parlance, a person can exit service either by resignation, sack, voluntarily retirement or death. It is, therefore, preposterous for the president to direct that the people, who have exited service for personal reasons be re-absorbed.
“The Forum enjoined all responsible citizens of Rivers State to rise up in this our moment of truth, to salvage the soul of Rivers State. Our fathers fought for the creation of Rivers State, we will stand to defend it. When injustice and criminality become law and a way of life in the polity, resistance becomes a duty.
“Finally, the Forum condemns in its entirety, the directives for the resolution of the political crisis in Rivers State. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy where only the courts can order the reversal of acts done or carried out under the provisions of the law.
“Therefore, any resolution or directive that intends to undermine the principle of separation of powers and the rule of law is unacceptable, null and void and will be resisted, using all constitutional means at our disposal.”