There seems to be no end to the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, as parties involved in the face-off are struggling to implement the peace resolutions handed down to them by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, had last week withdrawn the impeachment notice served on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as part of the resolutions reached during a peace meeting initiated by Tinubu.
As part of the resolution, the governor released the withheld November and December salaries as well as other benefits of the 27 lawmakers.
However, none of the parties involved in the crisis has taken any further step towards implementing other aspects of the resolution.
Fubara has not withdrawn the suit he instituted against the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, which is before a Rivers State High Court sitting at Isiokpo.
In the same vein, the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers got a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to extend its order on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others, from conducting bye-election into their seats.
The seats of the lawmakers was declared vacant by the Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie-led faction of the House of Assembly, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during a church service in Port Harcourt, the FCT minister, Wike, explained that he was not the one who went to the President to seek for his intervention, saying that Tinubu must, however be appreciated for his fatherly role.
Minister said; “We must thank Mr. President for interfering and intervening, but I was not even the one who went to the President to seek for his intervention.
“They were saying President intervene, President intervene, and President intervened, they are now saying Mr. President has no constitutional power to have intervened.
“But they were the same people who sought the President’s intervention and he has intervened to bring peace. They are now turning around to say no, the President does not have the constitutional power.
“No matter what circumstances, if Mr President invites me to a meeting and tells me to do something, within 24 hours I will carry it out.
“Mr President invited us and said do this, do this and this. You agreed, but later, you started saying he has no power to intervene. As for me, I have subjected myself to the peace process.”
In his Christmas Day broadcast, Governor Fubara, promised to implement the resolutions reached during the peace parley without compromising the interest of the people of the state.
He said: “I most heartily thank all the good people of Rivers State and all men and women of goodwill, even those beyond our shores, for the massive love and support we have received and continues to enjoy before and during the recent travails that challenged the peace of our State and stability of our Government.
“Let me also use this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to our dear President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, HIs Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu GCFR for wading into the near crisis situation that almost punctuated the prevailing peace in our dear State.
“Indeed, by this singular effort, our dear President has demonstrated that he loves Rivers State and cherishes nothing short of a reign of perfect peace in our State with his Presidential Peace Proclamation on the 18th of December 2023.
“Mr. President’s Peace Proclamation has naturally elicited mixed reactions from our people and across the country. While most stakeholders have violently condemned it, a few others have applauded It.
“As a principal participant in the entire saga, I have taken some time to study the terms therein and have come to the conclusion that the Peace Pact is not as bad as it is being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it. It is certainly, not a death sentence. It offers some way towards a lasting peace and stability in our dear State.
“Accordingly, I reaffirm my acceptance of the Presidential Peace Proclamation and my commitment to implementing both the spirit and letters of the declaration in such a way and manner that will restore political stability to our dear State without compromising the collective interest of our people and our cherished and shared democratic values.
“Already, both parties have demonstrated some good faith in the implementation process with the withdrawal of the purported impeachment notice on their part, and the release of hitherto withheld allowances of the members of the State House of Assembly by the Government.
“I have said before, there is no price too much to pay for peace. And with the realisation that the worst peace is better than the best war, we will strive to make peace with all segments and interest groups without surrendering our freedom nor jeopardising the interest and well-being of the good people of Rivers State who graciously entrusted us with their cherished mandate.”
But, addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum (RELF), led by former Governor of Old Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-Goerge, told the governor that he lacked the constitutional powers to implement the peace resolution.
Ada-Goerge said: “I most heartily thank all the good people of Rivers State and all men and women of goodwill, even those beyond our shores, for the massive love and support we have received and continues to enjoy before and during the recent travails that challenged the peace of our State and stability of our Government.
“Let me also use this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to our dear President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, HIs Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu GCFR for wading into the near crisis situation that almost punctuated the prevailing peace in our dear State.
“Indeed, by this singular effort, our dear President has demonstrated that he loves Rivers State and cherishes nothing short of a reign of perfect peace in our State with his Presidential Peace Proclamation on the 18th of December 2023.
“Mr. President’s Peace Proclamation has naturally elicited mixed reactions from our people and across the country. While most stakeholders have violently condemned it, a few others have applauded It.
“As a principal participant in the entire saga, I have taken some time to study the terms therein and have come to the conclusion that the Peace Pact is not as bad as it is being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it. It is certainly, not a death sentence. It offers some way towards a lasting peace and stability in our dear State.
“Accordingly, I reaffirm my acceptance of the Presidential Peace Proclamation and my commitment to implementing both the spirit and letters of the declaration in such a way and manner that will restore political stability to our dear State without compromising the collective interest of our people and our cherished and shared democratic values.
“Already, both parties have demonstrated some good faith in the implementation process with the withdrawal of the purported impeachment notice on their part, and the release of hitherto withheld allowances of the members of the State House of Assembly by the Government.
“I have said before, there is no price too much to pay for peace. And with the realisation that the worst peace is better than the best war, we will strive to make peace with all segments and interest groups without surrendering our freedom nor jeopardising the interest and well-being of the good people of Rivers State who graciously entrusted us with their cherished mandate.”
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer