Fresh War Looms In Rivers As Wike’s Men Plot Against Fubara After He Swore In Ex-Speaker, Ehie

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the state House of Assembly members who are loyal to Ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, are once again on a potential collision course as lawmakers accused the Governor of making illegal appointments.

This followed the appointment of former factional Speaker, Edison Ehie as Chief of Staff to the Governor among other appointments.

Fubara, in response, warned nine commissioners, who had recently returned to his cabinet after resigning during the political crisis with ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, not to work against his government. During Monday’s plenary, the lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, criticized the Governor’s actions, labeling them as an aberration and a violation of the law.

The lawmakers specifically objected to the appointments of Mr. Goodlife Ben as acting Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Mrs Ine Briggs as acting Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement, and Mr. Tonte Davies as acting Administrator of the New Cities Development Authority. Majority Leader Major Jack highlighted a government Special Announcement, prompting the legislators to cite sections of different laws, accusing Fubara of disregarding established laws.

The Speaker expressed bewilderment at Fubara’s deliberate violation of laws and the 1999 Constitution, considering such acts as misconduct. The House, in response, decided to write to the Governor, emphasizing Section 44(3) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and Section 5(1) of the Rivers State Public Procurement Law No. 4 of 2008.

Quoting the Speaker, “The only thing available for the governor to do is to submit his nominees to us (House) for screening and confirmation. There is no legislation backing the purported New Cities Development Authority that he intends to create. The action of the governor to go ahead to appoint someone and say the person is in an acting capacity and ask the person to resume there is nothing like that in our law. The Clerk is hereby directed to write a letter to the governor drawing attention to the laws of Rivers State, particularly the Rivers State Local Government Law. Public Procurement Law No. 4.”