Tension In Rivers As Seven-Day Budget Ultimatum Reaches Deadline

Political uncertainty has returned to Rivers State as the deadline approaches for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the 2024 budget, following a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. This ultimatum, set to expire this week, stems from a motion by Dumle Maol, Deputy Speaker of the Pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly, calling for compliance with a court ruling that affirmed the assembly’s current membership and leadership. The demand for budget resubmission aligns with a presidential peace pact from December aimed at quelling the state’s ongoing political crisis. Despite this, Governor Fubara, who had previously submitted the ₦800 billion budget to an Edison Ehie-led Assembly, announced plans for the 2025 budget, signalling a potential dismissal of the assembly’s demands. The ongoing crisis in Rivers began with a series of dramatic events, including a fire at the State House of Assembly and an attempted impeachment of Governor Fubara. The faction of the Assembly is now led by Victor Oko-Jumbo. The budget, which was passed and signed into law, is still being implemented, suggesting that the peace agreement has faltered. Meanwhile, a pro-Fubara politician from the same community as Amaewhule, Chijioke Ihunwo, has dismissed the 7-day ultimatum on the governor as laughable. Ihunwo, who was appointed by the governor as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, urged Amaewhule to accept his fate as a former assembly member, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. He encouraged the people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, comprising Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, to continue supporting the Governor under the leadership of former Senator John Azuta-Mbata. The politician, who was criticised for appointing 100 aides last week, said the decision, which other CTC Chairmen are also implementing, is aimed at bringing local government administration closer to the grassroots. He announced that more appointments would be made in the coming days, to demonstrate that the Fubara-led government is inclusive.

BREAKING! CJ transfers Amaewhule’s defection case

The cases challenging the defection of the 25 State lawmakers in Rivers State from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, have been transferred. The case was transferred from Federal High Court 4, Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Steven Dalyop Pam, to court two controlled by Justice E. O. Obele. However, there was confusion yesterday among journalists covering the court proceedings and some of the lawyers in the matter as they got to the court, Friday morning, to discover that the cases have been transferred to a different court. The lawyers and journalists who were stocked at court four could only realise that the matters have been moved when the notable Senior Advocates of Nigeria in the matter who had arrived the court premises could not be found in court four. On approaching the court clerk after over an hour of resumption of court sitting, it was discovered that the matter was transferred Thursday to the new court. This transfer came following a petition by a defendant in matter, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, demanding that the cases against him be transferred to another court. The cases are one instituted by BOOT Party and others as plaintiffs in suit number FHC/PHC/269/2024 and another by Civil Society Organsiation in the state against Amaewhule and other, all on the defection of the defendants to the APC. When the court had resumed on Monday for hearing, the court was confronted with a petition signed by Martin Amaewhule addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, seeking the case to be reassigned to another court. The Presiding Judge, Justice Steven Dalyop Pam, who read the petition in the open court, had noted that the petitioner, Amaewhule, was praying the CJ of the High Court, to stop the hearing process following the petition. When the petition was read, Counsel for the plaintiff, BOOT Party, Mr. Reuben Wanogho, had informed the court that the petition was aimed at arresting the ongoing case and urged the court to discountenance it. But, Counsel for the 1st to 25th Defendants in the suit, Ferdinand Orbi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, denied knowledge of the petition by his client, prayed the court to adhere to the petition and stop further proceeding if the letter was addressed to the CJ of the court. However, the presiding judge, Pam, noted that in the first instance the petitioner (Amaewhule) has no motion, counter affidavit before him and that he is not yet known in the case. Pam in his ruling had noted that the petitioner has not copied his petition on the plaintiffs, noting the court would have no other option than discountenance the petition and move on with hearing of motions for joinder.

Explosion rocks Port Harcourt

There was pandemonium in Port Harcourt on Tuesday as a middle-aged protester carrying dynamite got killed while trying to discharge an explosive. The incident happened in front of Hotel Presidential at about 9.45am on Tuesday.  According to an eyewitness account, the corpse of the victim was taken away hurriedly as security agents trooped to the location where the incident occured.    Another eyewitness, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that the protesters caused heavy traffic while on procession to their destination.

Protest Breaks Out In Rivers Amid Crisis, Airport Blocked

Women from the IPO community in Rivers State have staged a blockade at Port Harcourt airport, leading to significant disruptions and leaving passengers stranded amidst the state’s escalating political tensions. As of Tuesday morning, the women were actively preventing vehicles from entering the airport, causing a long queue of cars carrying passengers. Some of the women were seen at the entrance with cooking utensils, firewood, and ingredients, engaging in food preparation activities. While the women had not communicated with the media at the time of this report, they were heard engaging in loud discussions among themselves. Earlier, the Rivers State Police Command had issued a warning regarding a planned protest by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko stated, “The Rivers State Police Command has been informed about the scheduled protest by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on June 24, 2024. While we respect the right to peaceful assembly, we have credible information suggesting potential infiltration by troublemakers aiming to cause disruption and chaos within the state.” She added, “Therefore, we strongly advise organizers to postpone the protest to prevent any potential breach of peace. The police will take all necessary lawful actions to safeguard lives and property in Rivers State. Any individual or group attempting to disrupt peace will be apprehended and prosecuted.” In response to the security concerns raised by the police, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, has deployed officers to the headquarters of all 23 Local Government Areas in the state. “These officers will remain stationed there until the threat to peace is deemed to have subsided,” the statement concluded. Following the police advisory, NULGE subsequently called off their planned protest.

Rivers Govt Reacts To APC’s Call For Emergency Rule 

The Rivers State Government has firmly dismissed recent calls by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Tony Okocha, for the implementation of emergency rule in the state. The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, characterized Okocha’s demands as “Bobo juice,” implying that they were frivolous and unworthy of serious consideration. During a press briefing, Commissioner Johnson expressed that Tony Okocha’s statements were merely “ranting” and did not merit a response. He accused Okocha of being notorious for spreading misinformation and engaging in scaremongering tactics that lack credibility. “Nobody would take such a character serious in the state,” Johnson added, reflecting the government’s dismissal of Okocha’s influence and assertions. The commissioner also referenced a past incident where Okocha had caused a public stir by claiming an outbreak of cholera in the state. Following these claims, a team of medical experts was dispatched to investigate, only to find that the allegations were false. He said: “On Tony Okocha, I don’t think that what Okocha said is worth giving any attention. We should not break our heads over what Tony Okocha said. “The other time, he said there was a cholera outbreak when the medical personnel visited the place they said there was nothing like that. “Another day he (Okocha) said he was welcoming members of the House of Assembly who defected to the APC. What is the position today? “He also said that he was going to ask the members of the House of Assembly to commence impeachment of the governor. What is the position today? “All these talks are what we call Bobo juice, He is talking to himself. He is not talking to anybody, and he is not talking to Rivers people.”

Wike loyalists storm council secretariat, vow to resist Fubara’s caretaker team

There is ongoing tension in Port Harcourt City Local Government Council (PHALGA) in Rivers State as youths, loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, gathered around the council premises amidst a crisis over local government administration. Police presence was heightened around PHALGA and other local council areas across the state to maintain order following reports of unrest. Speaking to Channels Television, Maxwell Enwukwe, a former Council Executive and current coordinator of grassroots development initiatives in PHALGA, emphasized their commitment to ensuring peace and order. “These are youths from Port Harcourt Local Government Council. We have come to ensure peace and order in our local government council because yesterday, we received information that some individuals gathered hoodlums to besiege the council even during a public holiday,” Enwukwe stated. He further explained, “Today, we have come to see why that happened, but fortunately, the police have taken over the local government council premises, and everyone is here peacefully. These are supporters of grassroots development initiatives loyal to the Minister of FCT.” Despite the police presence, the crowd remained stationed at the PHALGA environment, which is near the Rivers State Government House, indicating heightened tensions over the leadership dispute. The crisis was triggered by the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen in Rivers State on Tuesday, with conflicting claims over tenure extension by the State House of Assembly. Governor Siminalayi Fubara has, however, maintained that there was no official extension of tenure and has proceeded to nominate caretaker committees for the 23 local government councils in the state.

Rivers LGA crisis: No tenure extension for chairmen, Fubara declares

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has held a crucial meeting with heads of security agencies in the State amidst the ongoing local government succession crisis. Rising from the state council security meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Governor warned against what he described as a grand plot to arrest his supporters. He said his administration would no longer allow arresting his supporters on trump-up charges, saying security agents must pass through him before undertaking such action. The Governor assured that he would fearlessly lead the way to ensure peace in the state and also protect all patriotic supporters for their stand on the path of truth. Fubara said no extension of tenure of elected local government chairmen, explaining that the law was unambiguous on it adding that the court also affirmed the position of the law. The Governor said: “Let me also say this. I’m also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters. This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything that any of those people following us has done. Rather, thy are standing on the side of truth.  “If it will cost us our lives to stand on the part of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course”. Governor Fubara further said: “Let me assure everyone, more especially, the great and peace- loving people of Rivers State: the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure.  “The court said so, and whoever that is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this State. “I assure everyone of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that”.  Fubara explained that the Security Council Meeting was called because of the recent threat to the peace of the state by the outgone chairmen of the local government councils. He said: “You are all aware that the tenure of the council chairmen ended yesterday, 17th June, 2024, and today, we have ordered the Heads of Local Government Administration to be in charge while they await further directives. “It’s really unfortunate that we started hearing some disturbing news from some LGAs of invasion of council secretariats, and it is really unfortunate. So, we have called the Security Council Meeting so that the needful will be done. “We are also aware that our enemy is also planning a lot of things. But we will not fall into that plot. We will not also allow him or them to destroy the peace that we are enjoying in the State,” he added. He thanked the media and the peace-loving people of the state for their support, and urged everyone to continue to remain law-abiding for the unity and progress of the state.

Fubara Reshuffles Rivers State Cabinet

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has reshuffled his cabinet. The move was made public in a statement released on Tuesday evening by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Danagogo. The reshuffling of the cabinet is in response to the ongoing political turmoil in the State. Fubara, in the statement, ordered the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, to move to the Ministry of Special Duties within the Governor’s Office. Isaac Kamalu, who previously served as the Commissioner for Finance, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment.

Fubara Appoints Ehie As Chief Of Staff, Names Special Advisers

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the appointments of a Chief of Staff and Special Advisers. Former factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, has been appointed as Chief of Staff, Government House. During the political crisis in the state, Ehie resigned from his position as the member representing Ahoada East State Constituency 2 and as Speaker of a faction of the State House of Assembly. Meanwhile, the Special Advisers appointed include Solomon Abel Eke, Aminayanasam Fiberesima, Deeyah Bariene, Darlington Orji and Prince Obi Ohia. In a statement released on Monday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, it was announced that: “The newly appointed Chief of Staff and Special Advisers, alongside one guest each, are expected to be seated at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Monday, 29th January, 2024 at 10:30 am, for the swearing-in ceremony by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State at 11:00am.”

Court Nullifies Passage of Rivers State 2024 Budget

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Monday, declared unlawful the presentation and passage of Rivers State 2024 Budget by a group of unlawful four member legislators in the State. Also, the court ordered the governor of the State Siminalaye Fubara to represent the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under Speaker Martin Amaewhule. Ruling on the matter before the court, James Omotoso also held that the government has no Constitutional power to withhold the Hose of Assembly fund. The court restrained Governor Fubara from frustrating House of Assembly under Amaewhule from sitting or interfering in the affairs of the House. The redeployment of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk done by the Governor was declared null and void and was set aside. The Inspector General of Police was ordered to immediately give adequate security to the Speaker and legislators loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike. Justice Omotoso ordered the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk to resume office immediately and unhindered. The National Assembly barred from taking over the Rivers State House of Assembly or accept or treat any request from Governor Fubara. Governor Fubara was ordered to release all monies standing in the credit of the House of Assembly to Martin Amaewhule. In all, all issues in dispute on Ribers State House of Assembly were resolved in favour of Wike’s loyalists. Details later.