*Beke Faction Counters
* Pro-Wike Lawmakers Give Condition To Meet Gov
*Ada-George Urges Restraint
THE factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State loyal to Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Chief Tony Okocha, has asked Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to resign or face impeachment proceedings.
But reacting to the call, the rival faction loyal to former minister of Transportation. Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, led by Chief Emeka Beke, said the APC executive committee that produced Okocha had since been nullified for conducting the election that threw him (Okocha) up as chairman, against a court order, and lacks the authority to speak for the party.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, March 10, Okocha said the recent Supreme Court judgment on the political crisis in the state was final, adding that the meeting invitation extended to the Martin Awaewhule-led faction of the Rivers House of Assembly by Fubara was a “Greek gift.”
He stated: “The invitation to the lawmakers is a Greek gift. The Supreme Court judgment is final. There is nothing anybody can do about it. The only option available to the governor now is for him to resign or be impeached.”
But Publicity Secretary of the Beke-led executive, Mr. Darlington Nwauju, reminded Okocha that he too is standing outside the law, as his caretaker committee was nullified by the court, but that he held on without a valid court counter-order.
He recalled that a state High Court in Port Harcourt ordered the APC not to hold the congress that brought Okocha in, but that he (Okocha) relied on the support of a strongman to go ahead and emerged as state chairman in rivalry to a court-recognised state executive council.
Nwauju said in a message to journalists: “Our response: Recall that part of the grounds which the Supreme Court latched on to sustain the FHC judgment that nullified the local government elections in Rivers State was that election went ahead despite the court’s judgment stopping the process.
“Now, our question is: If we are not a people suffering from collective amnesia in Rivers State, why must a Tony Okocha, who is still parading himself as chairman of the APC in Rivers against the judgment of the court, now be the person pontificating over abuse of or disobedience to court process?
“What kind of physician goes about healing others while needing a health emergency? The likes of Okocha are conflict entrepreneurs, as far as the political saga in Rivers State is concerned, and posterity will not forget the ignoble roles he is playing in dismantling democracy and the rule of law in Rivers State.
“This pot that has made it a duty always to call the kettle black must know that we understand his antics. Having maintained a steady voyage reeking in inconsistency, how do we even bother responding to a man who once said ‘the 27 members of the State Assembly are now in APC’ only a month later?
“The same person on national television claimed they never defected, but that he only tried to woo them? How can someone who does not know the colour of our party register now tell the world who has left or joined the party? What can a cockroach possibly be saying in the gathering of fowls?”
He urged Nigerians not to continue to consult Okocha on matters relating to the APC in Rivers State.
Recall that the apex court on February 28, affirmed the judgment of a Federal High Court barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to the state.
It also ordered the Amaewhule-led faction, made up of 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike, and other elected members of the Assembly to resume sitting, just as it nullified the local government election held in the state on October 5, last year.
Subsequently, the lawmakers resumed sitting and requested the governor to present this year’s Appropriations Bill, which was late last year approved by a three-member Assembly, for consideration.
But in a letter dated March 7, and issued by the office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Fubara, while acknowledging receipt of the apex court’s judgment restoring them, invited the Amaewhule-led lawmakers to a meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday, March 10, to address key issues, including the provision of sitting space for the Assembly, payment of outstanding allowances and the presentation of this year’s budget.
Dissatisfied, the lawmakers, on Sunday, March 9, asked the governor to channel his invitation to the members properly and not through social media.
One of the lawmakers, Isaiah Opuende, representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, criticised the governor for inviting the lawmakers via social media, charging Fubara to communicate with them appropriately, adding that it was surprising that Fubara would call them after he had told them at several fora to dey their dey.
According: “It is time for us to determine our dey. When the dey your dey started, our principal said the time for our own dey your dey will come. Now, our dey your dey has come.
“Dey your dey make we dey our dey. How can you wire a letter and post it on social media and expect us to honour it? You know we are not kids. The governor should properly write to the Assembly. That’s all.”
Similarly, some former local government chairmen who served during the tenure of Wike were also seen in a viral video, singing and mocking Fubara over the invitation extended to the Assembly members.
After the judgment, the lawmakers, at their first sitting, urged Fubara to present this year’s budget and demanded that he submit nominees for commissioner and other appointments, insisting that those currently serving in the capacity lacked legal backing.
The lawmakers also summoned the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), and commissioners to appear before them on Monday, March 10.
Enebeli had fixed August 9, this year, to conduct a fresh local government election in the state following the apex court’s judgment annulling the October 5, last year, exercise.
But summons were ignored, as Commissioner for Information, Mr. Joseph Johnson, said the government was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before taking action.
The CTC was eventually released on Thursday evening, March 6, and widely published in national dailies on Friday, March 7; hence the invitation by the governor.
Following this, the Assembly issued a warrant of arrest for the RSIEC chief at the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for him to appear before it.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of last year’s poll.
Meanwhile, a former governor of the state, Chief Rufus Ada-George, has sued for peace and restraint, urging the Assembly members to set aside personal interests and work towards progress.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, March 10, Ada-George warned against inflammatory statements, threats and ultimatums that could heighten tension, charging all political gladiator to exercise caution and prioritise the well-being of the state.
He stated: “Although the Supreme Court has rendered its verdict, there is still room for humane and pragmatic decisions that can help mitigate the adverse effects of the ruling on the people” and avoid a repeat of the 1962 western regional crisis.
The elder statesman called for dialogue and compromise, saying that even in war-torn regions, negotiation has remained a vital tool for peacebuilding.
“As the oldest civilian governor of Rivers State, I remain optimistic about our future. Let us embrace compromise, unity and peace as we chart a new course for our dear state,” he counselled.
