‘Rivers sliding into lawlessness’ — rep asks Tinubu to caution Fubara

Solomon Bob, a member of the house of representatives, has asked President Bola Tinubu to caution Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers.

In a statement issued on Friday, Bob, who represents Abua/Odual and Ahoada east federal constituency of Rivers, claimed that Fubara has committed several impeachable offences and is operating without respect for the rule of law.

The legislator said Fubara is running the government without a legally passed appropriation law.

Bob said Fubara did not respect the peace accord facilitated by Tinubu between him and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

“He (Fubara) begged for the December settlement brokered by the president. He benefitted more than anyone else from it. In fact, he is the only beneficiary. But see how he has trashed it,” Bob said.

The lawmaker alleged that Fubara’s actions have reduced the state legislature to “rubble”.

“He has illegally withheld funds due to local governments, and our people are running on empty.

“The House of Assembly, which has the constitutional responsibility to take necessary measures against the governor, must not be fettered. At the moment, that is the impression I get.”

Bob said Rivers is sliding into “lawlessness and tyranny” under Fubara, calling on Tinubu not to condone “egregious unlawful behaviour”.

BACKGROUND

The Rivers house of assembly has been divided since 2023 following the rift between Fubara and Wike, his predecessor. 

In December, 27 members of the assembly defected from the PDP to the APC.

The Rivers assembly has 32 seats. One lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, died in September 2023.

In October 2023, Ehie Edison was elected speaker of the factional assembly after his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule — amid the plot to impeach Fubara.

Fubara subsequently presented the 2024 appropriation bill before five members of the assembly.

Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become chief of staff to Fubara.

The lawmakers in the Amaewhule-led faction are loyal to Wike.

In December, Wike and Fubara signed an agreement facilitated by Tinubu to end the feud in the state but the political crisis has festered.

The political crisis took a fresh twist last week after Victor Jumbo, a lawmaker representing the Bonny state constituency, was elected factional speaker.

Last Friday, a state high court in Port Harcourt granted an interim injunction restraining Amaewhule from acting as a speaker of the Rivers assembly.

Charles Wali, the presiding judge, also restrained 25 other assembly members from parading themselves as legislators.

The motion ex parte was filed by Jumbo and two assembly members — Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy — loyal to Fubara.