Back calls for end to Rivers political crisis, elders forum urges NASS

The Rivers Elders Forum has called on the National Assembly to support calls to end the lingering political crisis in the state.

The elders, under the aegis of the Simplified Rivers Elders Forum, therefore urged the lawmakers to support the lawmaker representing Ideato North-South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, in his efforts to stop the unabated political unrest in the state.

The forum, during a meeting in Port Harcourt yesterday, agreed with the acting National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Umar Damagun, on his note to the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a by-election to fill the seats of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who allegedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Spokesman of the forum, Prof. Sola Obianime, during the meeting, lauded the boldness and the interest of Ugochinyere, the leader of the G-60 lawmakers in the Rivers political crisis, describing him as a true democrat.

Prof. Obianime, a former President of the Ijaw National Congress, however, said it is disrespectful to the President that, after asking the parties in the crisis to withdraw their suits in court, the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, refused to honor the agreement reached with President Tinubu to withdraw all litigations, a directive which Governor Fubara heeded.

He stated, “To us as elders, the action of the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers is a form of legal ambush, portraying mischief, disrespect for the President, Nigerians, and a show of the dishonorable nature of these lawmakers.

“It must be stated that these lawmakers, midwifed by Mr. President, had earlier defected from the PDP, the party that sponsored them, to join the All Progressives Congress. This action is clearly at variance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.”

Continuing, he said, “However, in a recent twist, these same lawmakers are denying their defection, a case which is their case with the Labour Party in the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Division. Is this not perjury or an abuse of the court process?”

The forum also queried the transfer of the case from the Rivers State Courts to Abuja, despite coordinated jurisdiction and equality of status, even as they urged the courts handling the Rivers political cases to look at the issues on their merit and refrain from any bias in order to maintain the integrity of the judiciary.

“We wonder why the constitutional definition of the status of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers has not been defined by the courts for the past year, which is the kernel of the entire political imbroglio, while issues that border on the local government elections have received an appellate decision within two months?”

He, however, lauded the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal for setting up the legal teams to review all cases relating to the Rivers State political crisis, urging all stakeholders to prioritize peace, growth, and progress of the state.

Prof. Obianime added, “As elders, we have also seen that it is other people who are fighting and leading our cases. We align ourselves with Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a gentleman who has decided to carry the Rivers State matter as a crusade on his head.

“Therefore, we plead with all lovers of goodwill and good governance to support Hon. Ugochinyere. We want to also say, as a people, we love our friends. This state (Rivers) is a multi-ethnic settlement where all manner of people come to do business.

“So we expect people of good conduct, all lovers of peace, and all those who love prosperity in the gates of Port Harcourt and Rivers State in general to support Hon. Ugochinyere, and the National Assembly in particular.

“That somebody amongst you (NASS) is leading a group of people amongst you to say we must do the right thing, the National Assembly should look inwards and come to the aid and support of Ugochinyere to end this political crisis in our state.

“We cannot continue like this, where a group of people will think that they are above the law. The law must take its course.”

It was recalled that the political crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, broke out on October 30, 2023, with the failed attempt to impeach the Governor.

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