Political instability in Rivers State and what it portends

October 30, 2023 remains a sad commentary in the history of Rivers State. This fateful day was the day a handful of lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly, believed to be loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and former Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike attempted to impeach the sitting Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. As far as Rivers’ people are concerned, the impeachment notice contained no cogent reason, apart from misconduct which to them is vague.

Even the Governor himself till date is still asking the irate lawmakers to tell Rivers people his offence that warrants impeachment.

But there are heightened insinuations that the crux of the matter is the control of the soul of Rivers State’ by the former Governor. This singular act of the 27 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers led by the Speaker, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule who later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no doubt thrown the State into political turmoil. It primarily factionalised the State Assembly, with the 27 loyal to Wike at one side and 4 loyal to Gov. Fubara on the other side.

The 4 pro-Fubara lawmakers led by RT Hon Edison Ehie, now Chief Staff to Gov Fubara quickly declared the seats of the 27 APC lawmakers vacant, before resigning to take up the Chief of Staff job. The episode snowballed into burning down of the Hallowed Chambers, with allegations and counter-allegations as to who the culprits were.

Since then, it has been a cat and dog fight in the Rivers State House of Assembly. In fact, the Governor had to declare the once revered Hallowed Chambers unsafe for use or habitation and ordered for its demolition. As we are talking to you, nobody knows where the two Assembly factions are sitting. And with the acrimony, Martin Amaewhule’s faction who has been declared illegitimate and non-existent by Governor Fubara has continued to pass bills into laws, overriding the Governor and his assent.

The Governor was quoted in a recent speech to have said that as far as he is concerned, the 27 APC lawmakers are non-existent. And to factualise or concretise that statement on Wednesday the 8th of May, 2024, the lawmakers loyal to him, elected the member representing Bonny State Constituency, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo as Speaker. And shortly after his emergence, he declared all the laws purported to have passed by the Amaewhule faction null and void. He equally corroborated the position of the Governor that the defected 27 lawmakers are no more legislators by virtue of their defection to APC in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The battle line is drawn now more than ever before.

By this development, we expect the wheel of governance to start rolling now. Government bills by implication will hit the 4 or 3-man Rivers State House of Assembly and if that is what the law says, why not? Speculations are rife that new Commissioner nominees will soon be sent to the genuine State Assembly for screening and approval. There is no vacuum in nature, the onus is now on the law courts where the contentious matter of legitimacy of the defected lawmakers has been pending to expedite actions and make rulings.

In the meantime, status quo remains and beauty they say is in the eye of the beholder. For Governor Fubara, his mind is made on what he wants and with the emergence of the new Speaker, there should be no dull moment. But for us, whether the monkey will go to the market and come back or not, it is immaterial. No true Rivers man, woman or resident of the State will be happy with the current political crisis in the State. It is abhorrent to say the least, the fact remains that when two elephants are fighting, the grass suffers. That is exactly what is happening to Rivers’ people.

Crisis, it has been widely accepted, does not pay anybody and if allowed to erupt, even the innocent suffers. This is exactly the case in Rivers State. And worse still, the Caretaker  Committee Chairman (CTC)  of APC, Chief Tony Okocha had on Monday during a press briefing in Port Harcourt called for recommencement of impeachment proceedings against Gov Fubara.

It is therefore not surprising that a new Speaker in person of RT Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo emerged the next day to fortify the defence line of the Governor. The PDP National and even the Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon Sydney Gbara have all condemned Tony Okocha’s comment accusing him of fomenting trouble that is capable of plunging the State into anarchy.

Even Chief Edwin Clarke, the Elder Statesman and Niger Delta activist has called for truce in Rivers State, warning that the Federal Government should not remain aloof to happenings in Rivers State, as according to him, the current political problem is capable of engulfing the entire nation when it fully erupts.

For us as innocent citizens, we are now on the sidelines not knowing what next the actions of the politicians would be. At this juncture, it is important to look at the way forward. There is heavy disaffection between the warring political camps and factions. Enemity amongst politicians is now the order of the day. Even threats to life have creeped in and what else? The state economy has almost been strangulated, among other negative indices.

At this juncture it is important to look at the way out of this imbroglio. First and foremost, the actors in these ignoble activities must come to a ceasefire. There must be total reconciliation of all the warring factions. The founding fathers of the State, elders and indeed well-meaning Rivers men and women must rise to the occasion of restoring peace in the State. As they broker peace among their children, peace will reign in their homes and posterity will always be kind to them.