No matter whose side one falls regarding the current political crisis in Rivers State, it is crystal clear that all is not well. The brouhaha was actually started by the ill-fated and ill conceived abortive impeachment attempt on a barely 6-month executive sitting Governor of the State by a section of the House of Assembly allegedly acting on external forces.
The good people of Rivers State could not digest the news well, because it was not only strange to them, it was also too early in the morning for a barely 6-month old state administration that was duly and overwhelmingly elected by the people of the State to vacate office just like that.
In short, it sounded like sacrilege. And moreso, no tangible reason was adduced by the actors or better put aggressors for such ignoble mission.
Before then rumours of misunderstanding between the Gov Siminalayi Fubara and his political godfather, the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike had ensued. Most people in the State and beyond couldn’t believe it, until the cat was let out of the bag.
To make good their threat, on the eve of the foiled impeachment attempt, fire erupted from the Hallowed Chamber. Up till today, it has been accusations and counter accusations on who was responsible for such a dastardly act. Nobody claimed responsibility for the disaster that befell the Rivers State House of Assembly. To tell you the terrible blow that was dealt on the Assembly complex by the inferno, occasioned by the attack, the multi-billion Naira facility today has to be demolished to forestall collapse or another unforeseen circumstance in future. God forbid!
The physical effects of the avoidable political crisis include, but not limited to stampeding the legislative proceedings of the once peaceful Hallowed Chamber, loss of valuable manhours, among others. This was of course caused by factionalisation of the State Assembly. It is not surprising that members spontaneously took sides, lining up behind former Speaker, Hon Martin Amaewhule and his former Leader, Hon Edison Ehie, now Speaker to either show disgust and/approval to the unfolding event.
And of course power tussles set in and Hon Amaewhule announced the suspension of Hon Ehie as Leader of the Assembly. Possibly as self-defence, Hon Ehie equally announced the suspension or impeachment of Hon Amaewhule. He did not only announce the removal of his former principal, he declared himself Speaker. To the astonishment of Rivers’ people and his constituents he ran to the court and got an injunction to authenticate his Speakership.
And just as if fortune favoured him, his arch rival and his group totalling 25 left their party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby clearing the coast for total takeover of the affairs in the Assembly.
This of course watered the ground for his legitimacy as the authentic Speaker, backed by the relevant Section of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that stipulates that any politician that cross carpeted after election should vacate such position and go back to the polls to renew his mandate.
Acting on that principle or Act, the PDP through its National Working Committee (NWC) has directed Speaker Edison Ehie to declare the positions of their former lawmakers vacant, which he has graciously complied with. The PDP did not stop there, they were said to have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye election to fill vacant positions left behind by PDP decampees.
The die is cast and only God knows what will transpire next. Meanwhile, the governor has heaved a sigh of relief and a few days ago presented his 2024 appropriation bill of N800billion to the House of four members. Unprecedented as it may look, but that is the law and must stand.
Beyond that, some well-meaning Nigerians and indeed Rivers people have called for quick resolution of this unfortunate visitor, called political crisis. Their reason may not be far-fetched, while some people see this near ceasefire as solution to the crisis, others call for a holistic solution of the impasse. As to whether the former or latter calls could make headway, remains to be seen.
Our position, however, is that everything humanly possible should be done to restore permanent and sustainable peace in Rivers State, as the crisis remains an ill wind that blows nobody any good. When to commence that process is now, as posterity won’t forgive us if we fail.