October 31, 2023 NewsOrient
By Samuel Egburonu, Editor

The crisis which erupted in Rivers State political sphere at the weekend, leading to the bombing of some parts of Rivers State House of Assembly on Sunday and an attempt on Monday, by 24 lawmakers, to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has recorded more intrigues and power play in the last 24 hours.

NewsOrient reports that within yesterday and this morning, Governor Fubara seems to have succeeded in frustrating his impeachment bid which we reported yesterday and in causing a division amongst the members of the state House of Assembly.

Besides storming the Assembly to personally disrupt the emergency sitting where the 24 lawmakers signed his impeachment notice and removed the former House Leader, Hon Edison Ehie, the Governor has increased the number of House of Assembly members on his side to 26 and with this number has removed the Speaker, Hon Martins Amaewhule, and announced Hon Ehie as the new Speaker.

As at the time of filing this report, the confusion is still deepening, even as some reports said the Governor has also dismissed many of his top aides alleged to be loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.

Besides the sweeping dismissals at the Rivers State Government House, including members of the State Executive Council, reports this morning confirm that the Governor has sufficiently taken over the Rivers State House of Assembly as Hon Ehie, his strong ally, has been named the current Speaker.

Ehie, who addressed journalists at the Government House after a meeting with Governor Fubara said the House has suspended the former Speaker and some other House members and has elected him (Ehie) as the new Speaker.

He also said the House would give a fair hearing to the suspended members.

As he puts it: “As you can see, the House just rose from plenary and with all humility I must thank my colleagues, 26 assembly members, who have just elected me as the new Speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly.

“My commitment to Rivers people is that I will be fair and just to all and sundry. And I will ensure that the rule of law takes its course.

“I will not betray my colleagues; I will not betray Rivers people, I will not betray my constituents.

“I will also ensure the Independence of the Rivers State House of Assembly is adhered to with mutual respect to the judiciary and the executive arm of government.’’

He also said: “The honourable members that have been suspended as has been published will also be given a fair hearing.

The Committee on Information will publish their names and the House urged the House Committee on Petitions to give them a fair hearing.

“The House has also adjourned sine die because the Parliamentary Association has served us a notice of indefinite strike from Abuja. So, we can’t sit again.”

With these development, observers of the political crisis are concerned that the battle may have just begun as Governor Fubara appears set to become his own man in the intricate Rivers State political theatre.

How the former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Barrister Nyesom Wike, will react to the seeming political revolution in his political fiefdom will go a long way to determine how soon the crisis would be resolved.

NewsOrient