Rift in Rivers State Politics Continues Despite Presidential Intervention

Tony Okocha, the caretaker committee chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has acknowledged the failure of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to reconcile the rift between Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Simi Fubara. Despite recent attempts, including a meeting initiated by the President, the conflict within the state’s political sphere has continued to escalate.

This ongoing crisis was further exacerbated by the recent defection of 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. In response, lawmakers loyal to Governor Fubara declared the defectors’ seats vacant and called for fresh elections to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Amidst this controversy, the state government demolished the House of Assembly complex on Wednesday, citing safety concerns due to a recent explosion. Consequently, Governor Fubara presented the 2024 budget to five lawmakers loyal to him in an unconventional setting within the Government House.

Speaking at a press conference at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, Okocha admitted he was not directly involved in the President’s intervention but expressed his belief that the reconciliation efforts have irreparably broken down.

Okocha also criticized the actions of four members of the state House of Assembly, led by a factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, for what he termed as illegality in sitting and approving the budget presented by Fubara for the 2024 fiscal year.

In his statement, Okocha revealed that the APC is actively seeking to bring Wike into its fold, and upon his joining, he would be recognized as the party’s leader in the state. He also commented on the situation of the 27 embattled members of the House of Assembly, stating that they do not require a physical structure like the demolished assembly complex to perform their legislative duties.informationguidenigeria

He said, “The House of Assembly can be moved to anywhere. It is not necessarily down to a building. Provided the mace is present there, members can sit anywhere. As of this morning, the 27 lawmakers met and even signed some resolutions.

“Even when the building was burnt, the governor never bothered to set up a panel or committee to investigate. Apparently, we know he was the mastermind.NYSC Portal

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“Yesterday (Wednesday), the government brought it down to prove fait accompli to the members who defected. But we as a party have said we will fight illegalities and not allow anybody to hound any lawmaker.

“We are here to tell the world that we stand with the lawmakers. What they did is not an aberration. Defection is not new. In 2014, the PDP was run aground and the members left in droves to the opposing party.JAMB Portal

“The PDP in Rivers has imploded and we are benefiting from the reward. We are telling the governor he cannot thrive on illegalities. I have given instruction to the legal adviser to petition the NJC to report the judge for delivering that ‘Jankara’ judgment.”

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