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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Erstwhile national publicity secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has said those condemning the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex were not abreast of the complete facts and circumstances that led to the action.
In a statement, yesterday, Eze said former governor, Nyesom Wike, made the recommendation for the demolition of the complex before he left office and given recent events, including the recent fire incident that engulfed the facility, causing a serious structural defect, Governor Simi Fubara was constrained to commence renovation works on the complex, which included demolition after some expert advice; and this was after he (Fubara) got approvals from the state legislature.
Eze maintained that apart from the above explanation the governor acted upon the advice of Wike when he was commissioning the Legislature Quarters about two years ago, when he stated that the roof of the Assembly built about 20 years ago was leaking and in a very deplorable condition and needed to be looked into which might have caused the demolition of the complex.
Consequently, Eze counselled those spreading false narratives to desist from peddling falsehood, noting that Fubara acted in the best interest of members of the state legislature whose continued use of the structurally defective facility could pose serious danger to their lives as a likelihood of collapse was imminent from expert’s recommendation.
Eze further noted that most of the issues happening in Rivers State had earlier been predicted by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who while being hosted by the Rivers State government predicted that he ‘pity anyone who will look down on the age of Fubara and decide to work against him …. that power that accrues to the governor is so immense coming from both Earth and Heaven. Such people will come to know that khaki is not leather’.
According to the APC stalwart, based on the prophecy by Wike, “Governor Fubara is just giving him a little bit of what a governor can do.”
On the fate of the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the lawmakers, Eze said Wike had already made their fate known when he stated after the defection of former governor David Umahi and his Zamfara and Cross Rivers states counterparts, that when one defects he loses his seat.
He said the lawmakers were misguided and should blame no one but their principal for the misfortune that has befallen them.
Eze urged them to tread with caution as they stand the risk of facing contempt charges, if they continue to disobey valid court orders regarding their status.
The APC chief restated that at the moment, Rivers State has only five lawmakers as sanctioned by the court and every business of the legislative arm is efficiently transacted by the pro-democracy five lawmakers.
“The business of lawmaking must not suffer because some members voluntarily gave up their seats in the pursuit of the private enterprise of Wike as against the interest of constituents,” he said.
Eze commended the Boma Goodhead-led group, Ijaw Council, Obio/Akpor PDP wards leaders and stakeholders for standing on the side of democracy and on the path of justice.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene by sacking the minister from his government if he has no hand in what is currently happening in Rivers State.
Eze described the alleged purchase of legal instruments outside Rivers State to empower the 27 pro-Wike Assembly members to convene and continue impeachment processes against Governor Fubara, even when they are no longer members of the state legislative arm, as an invitation to anarchy.
“It would be recalled that an alleged already written/ premeditated court ruling by one Donatus Okorowo of Federal High Court to that effect, set to be delivered today (yesterday), is on the trend on media spaces.
“According to the application secretly filed in the night, the former lawmakers are seeking an order of court stopping the legislature from declaring their seats vacant even when their prayers have been overtaken by event, the same having been done already.”
Eze noted that if Okorowo goes on to execute such an act, it simply proves that “our present judiciary is set to destroy our democracy and will not be tolerated.
“It is sad and unfortunate that President Tinubu is keeping mute over the happenings in Rivers State and has refused to call Wike to order. Let it not be seen that he is enjoying the efforts of his appointee to set Rivers State on fire.”
Eze joined both the Rivers State elders and other concerned groups to urge the judiciary and all security agencies to be wary and alive in discharging their responsibilities in order not to worsen the already tense atmosphere in Rivers State.
