Multiple sources from the Presidency have told The TheNigerian that political leaders from the South-South, especially governors from the region, are making efforts to reconcile warring parties, insisting the emergency rule is a stop-gap measure to allow for reconciliation.
President Bola Tinubu had on March 18 declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the breakdown of governance as a result of the war of attrition between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state’s lawmakers, as well as attacks on oil facilities in the state.
Tinubu also suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state’s House of Assembly.
He thereafter swore in a retired Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ette Ibas, as the state’s sole administrator.
The President relied on Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to back his action.
However, stakeholder insisted that the action was unnecessary and could steer the country towards authoritarian rule.
In defence, multiple sources in the Presidency, who spoke on the issue on Sunday, said the idea of the emergency rule was to provide both parties with a much-needed period of respite, allowing them the time to de-escalate tensions and engage in meaningful discussions to resolve their differences.
The sources further pointed out that key figures, including members of the Senate and governors from the South-South region, were actively working towards fostering reconciliation between the parties, with the ultimate goal of ending all grievances.
The officials also explained that a meditating panel was likely to be instituted, as requested by the National Assembly.
“These (mediating panels) are suggestions on the table,” one of the sources told The TheNigerian. “Customarily, the idea of the emergency rule is to give the parties time to cool down and sit down to solve their problems. That is the essence.
“So what the senate and the south governors are offering is to reconcile the parties so that they can stop all these fighting and quarrelling.”
Another source added, “Even the man there now, the sole administrator, part of his role is to reconcile the parties in conflict. That is part of his role, to make sure that the place is stabilised to reconcile them so they can work together for the peace and progress of Rivers.
“So, the President doesn’t need to get involved. The structures are there to take care of the issues.”
Reps committee
The House of Representatives will soon make a public pronouncement on the constitution of a committee to run the affairs of the Rivers State House of Assembly, The TheNigerian has learnt.
The Deputy Spokesman of the Green Chamber, Philip Agbese, disclosed this in a telephone interview with The TheNigerian in Abuja on Sunday.
Last week, both chambers of the National Assembly approved and ratified the emergency rule proclamation after considering a letter of request for approval from the Presidency.
Before the ratification of the emergency rule, the House frowned at Tinubu’s declaration that the administrator would report to the Federal Executive Council, pointing out that Section 305 of the Constitution he relied upon to suspend Fubara and the Rivers Assembly could not be read in isolation of Section 11 of the Constitution.
Section 11(4) of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to take over the legislative duties of a State Assembly where the latter cannot function as is the case with the Rivers Assembly today.
The Section reads, “At any time when any House of Assembly of a State is unable to perform its functions because of the situation prevailing in that State, the National Assembly may make such law for the peace, order and good government of that State with respect to matters on which a House of Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be necessary or expedient until such time as the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions.
“Any such laws enacted by the National Assembly pursuant to this section shall have effect as if they were laws enacted by the House of Assembly of the State.”
Speaking exclusively with The TheNigerian on Sunday, Agbese reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to usher in peace in Rivers State by getting the warring parties to sheathe their swords and work together.
He said, “The Speaker and House leadership are already addressing this issue and a public announcement will be made soon regarding the committee to be set up by the parliament.
“At the moment, the House is more concerned about restoring peace in Rivers State and bringing the various groups together. This is a novel situation that requires further consultations within and outside the parliament,” he said.
Wike’s aide
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said the minister was not opposed to discussions geared towards peace in Rivers state, noting that the suspended governor should have implemented the judgment of the Supreme Court immediately it was passed.
Wike played a major role in Fubara’s emergence as Rivers governor two years ago but the pair fell apart shortly after, with some political analysts blaming the minister for the chaotic situation in the oil-rich state.
“The minister is not averse to sitting down with people and discussing and talking, he’s not. It is the duty of the National Assembly to also seek peace, to mediate in issues. If the Presidency also wants to do that, if they want to mediate, like the President did once; they called him a meddlesome interloper, they said he had no right to intervene, so if he still believes that he can still intervene, no problem, so be it.”, he said.
Addressing calls for the minister’s suspension from the President’s cabinet over the crisis in Rivers State, Olayinka said, “People can always talk, whether what they are saying is sensible or not is another issue.
“Was it Wike that went to the House of Assembly to set it on fire? Was it Wike that demolished the House of Assembly? And actually the Supreme Court alluded to the fact that the governor demolished the House of Assembly so as to prevent himself from being impeached.
“Was it Wike that said publicly that ‘youths don’t be perturbed, when it is time, I will give you the directive?’ And when he gave them the directive, maybe they started destroying the pipelines. Was it Wike that did that? Was it Wike that was using three members of the House of Assembly illegally to pass budgets? That’s why I said people can always talk; it’s their right to talk. Whether they are making sense or not, is a different matter.”
In a dramatic twist, suspended Rivers State Governor Fubara made his first public appearance on Sunday after Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration.
After Fubara’s exit from Government House, his whereabouts became a source of worry as some stakeholders, including the Rivers Elders and Leaders, raised the alarm, saying they had neither seen nor heard from the Governor.
It was also speculated he was in Bayelsa to spend time with his counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, before he was seen on Sunday worshipping at the Salvation Miniseries, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Clad in an all-white attire, Fubara, who was in company with his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, and other government officials, exchanged pleasantries with some of the church members, who ushered him into the front row of the congregation.
The suspended governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed he attended the church service.
The statement titled ‘Governor Siminalayi Fubara worships at Salvation Ministries’ read, “Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Sunday, attended a special prayer, worship and thanksgiving service at Salvation Ministries Headquarters, GRA, Port Harcourt.
“The Governor was accompanied by top politicians, major stakeholders, elders and leaders of the state, and associates to express gratitude to God for His love, mercy and unwavering support amid the festering political challenges.”
The statement added that Fubara was accompanied by Ehie; President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Mbata; former Deputy National Chairman, PDP, Dr Sam Sam Jaja; Chief Orits Onyiri; Chief Mike Elechi; and Chief David Briggs.
Others include Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja; Amaopusenibo Fubara Hart; Chief Theodore Georgewill; Kingston Sylvanus; former Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Ezebunwo Ichemati; former Ikwerre Local Government Area chairman, Israel Abosi; former Emohua LG boss, David Omereji; among others.
The statement added, “The church service, a testament to his deep faith and belief in God as the ultimate dispenser of justice, was an extraordinary session of worship, prayers, and thanksgiving, to appreciate the Lord and acknowledge His never-failing gifts to humanity.
“A special prayer session was also held for the Governor shortly after the service.”
Fubara for peace
The Special Assistant to Fubara on Electronic Media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, told The TheNigerian that his principal was disposed to peace in the state while reacting to the call by the National Assembly to the Federal Government to set up a mediation panel for the Rivers political crisis.
“If you have been following the activities that led to the emergency rule, you will see that the Governor has been the peaceful one while the Assembly is like the aggressive one. And the Governor said ‘come let us discuss on how we can restore our dear state.’ Instead of them to reply the Governor that ‘we are not ready for this, don’t come, all they did was to adjourn sine die,” Omatsogunwa said.
“The Governor has been so peaceful in his disposition after he received the Certified True Copy of the judgment, he started implementation. So, I think the question should be thrown at them (Riverss lawmakers) if they will be open to the peace mediation panel because they cannot decide on their own. Somebody from somewhere, possibly Abuja, the FCT minister, will decide for them.
Explosion rocks Rivers
Amid the chaotic situation in the state, an explosion rocked a gas pipeline along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji Right of Way in Rivers State on Sunday morning.
It was earlier gathered the explosion occurred at the Soku Gas Plant operated by the NLNG in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area but the community debunked the claim, saying it happened elsewhere.
A viral video on Sunday showed huge fire and smoke following the explosion.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre in a statement by its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene, said the explosion occurred at Soku Gas Plant, adding that its cause was unknown.
The statement read, “An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area which is hard-to-reach and the fire is still ongoing as at the time of this report as shown in the short videos shared with the organisation by the youth volunteers of YEAC-Nigeria.
“The cause of the explosion is not yet known whether it’s caused by equipment failure, sabotage or attack on the facility.
“Advocacy Centre calls for investigation into the latest incident alleged in Soku and calls on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to carry out a joint investigation visit to the area with a view of determining the cause of the incident and holding perpetrators to account in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.”
Reacting to the explosion, the Soku community, in a statement, said the incident occurred at a Gas Pipeline along SOKU-Abua-Rumuji Right of Way and not the Soku Gas Plant.
The statement, signed by the General Secretary on behalf of Soku Kingdom, Witness Alasia, read, “On behalf of the leadership of the SOKU Kingdom, I write to debunk the falsehood escalating in all social media that there was an explosion in the Soku Gas Plant.
“It is disheartening and worrisome that people will mischievously misinform the public with a baseless and untrue story. Soku Gas Plant is safe and in perfect working condition. The public should disregard this unguided and untrue report.
“Though there was a fire outbreak in one of the Gas pipelines along Soku-Abua-Rumuji Right of Way. The cause of the explosion is unknown and the company also has not come up with any useful information.”
