Rivers Assembly’s Demands on Fubara Premature, Unnecessary — APC Chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has criticised the demand by the Rivers State House of Assembly for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to immediately present a new Appropriation Bill and transmit the list of commissioner nominees, describing the move as “premature” and an “unwarranted interference” in executive affairs.

In a statement issued on Friday, Eze argued that the lawmakers’ “hasty” request, coming barely a day after the expiration of the six-month emergency rule, was a deliberate attempt to ignite fresh political tension in the state.

“The demand by the Rivers State House of Assembly clearly signals a categorical invitation to another regime of crisis,” he said.

According to him, the Assembly, which only just reconvened after being suspended, should have used the period to reflect on the “losses and sabotage” suffered by the state during the emergency administration rather than rushing into fresh political confrontations.

“It is surprising that the Assembly is placing this demand on the governor at a time when the people expected them to quietly reflect, like the governor, on the avalanche of sabotage that wrecked the common patrimony of Rivers people by strangers installed to plunder the state,” he noted.

Eze accused the lawmakers of acting on the instructions of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, whom he described as being opposed to Fubara’s development efforts.

“How can these political puppets and loons ask the governor to present the state budget and list of commissioners on the very day the state of emergency was lifted if they are in for peace?” he queried.

The APC chieftain stressed that the appointment of commissioners and aides remains the exclusive prerogative of the governor, to be exercised at his discretion.

He further advised Fubara to sack appointees installed by the sole administrator during the emergency period and to resist any external attempt to impose commissioners or aides on him.

“For peace to reign, all members of the State Assembly who either resigned or worked with Governor Fubara must be reabsorbed, and all commissioners and appointees of the governor reinstated. This should be a ‘no victor, no vanquished’ situation,” Eze suggested.

On the governor’s silence despite the massive turnout of citizens marking his return to office, Eze said Fubara had demonstrated humility and restraint rather than a hunger for power.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to reassure the governor of full protection and to prevent any fresh attempt at impeachment by the Assembly.

“If President Tinubu fails to assure him of his full powers and protection, I will advise the governor to invoke his full powers as the Executive Governor of the state, particularly now that the entire state and international community are behind him,” he warned.

Eze concluded by urging Rivers residents to remain calm, saying the governor would soon address the people on his plans to recover the state from those he accused of undermining its peace and progress.