All 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly reconvened on Wednesday at the House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt, marking the resumption of legislative activities. The assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, gathered to address the prevailing political crisis in the oil-rich state.
The assembly’s decision to withdraw ongoing legal actions was announced through a letter signed by 27 members, with Speaker Amaewhule reading the letter during the session. Notably, one member was absent due to hospitalization. The withdrawal, according to Amaewhule, aligns with the conflict resolution intervention initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Rivers Elders, Leaders Reject Tinubu’s Intervention, Cite Constitutional Violations
The crisis in Rivers State has been brewing due to a rift between Governor Wike and his predecessor, Fubara, resulting in a split among lawmakers. Earlier interventions by President Tinubu, in consultation with former Governor Dr. Peter Odili, failed to quell the tensions.
A breakthrough occurred during a recent meeting at the Aso Villa in Abuja, where a truce was brokered.
Consequently, 27 lawmakers, originally from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a party in which Governor Wike currently serves as a minister.
The feud escalated to parallel sittings, an impeachment plot against the governor, the demolition of the Assembly complex, and numerous resignations of pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s cabinet. Despite earlier interventions by the President and elder statesmen in October, the conflict persisted.
However, the recent meeting resulted in a comprehensive agreement signed by key figures involved, including Fubara, Wike, Amaewhule, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. A crucial aspect of the agreement is the immediate withdrawal of all legal actions initiated by Fubara and his team.