The Rivers Elders Discussion board has known as on the Nationwide Meeting to assist calls to finish the lingering political disaster within the state.
The elders, beneath the aegis of the Simplified Rivers Elders Discussion board, subsequently urged the lawmakers to assist the lawmaker representing Ideato North-South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, in his efforts to cease the unabated political unrest within the state.
The discussion board, throughout a gathering in Port Harcourt yesterday, agreed with the performing Nationwide Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Get together, Umar Damagun, on his notice to the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee to conduct a by-election to fill the seats of the 27 members of the Rivers State Home of Meeting who allegedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Get together to the All Progressives Congress.
Spokesman of the discussion board, Prof. Sola Obianime, through the assembly, lauded the boldness and the curiosity of Ugochinyere, the chief of the G-60 lawmakers within the Rivers political disaster, describing him as a real democrat.
Prof. Obianime, a former President of the Ijaw Nationwide Congress, nevertheless, mentioned it’s disrespectful to the President that, after asking the events within the disaster to withdraw their fits in courtroom, the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, refused to honor the settlement reached with President Tinubu to withdraw all litigations, a directive which Governor Fubara heeded.
He said, “To us as elders, the motion of the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers is a type of authorized ambush, portraying mischief, disrespect for the President, Nigerians, and a present of the dishonorable nature of those lawmakers.
“It should be said that these lawmakers, midwifed by Mr. President, had earlier defected from the PDP, the occasion that sponsored them, to hitch the All Progressives Congress. This motion is clearly at variance with the provisions of the Nigerian Structure and the Electoral Act.”
Persevering with, he mentioned, “Nevertheless, in a current twist, these similar lawmakers are denying their defection, a case which is their case with the Labour Get together within the Federal Excessive Court docket, Port Harcourt Division. Is that this not perjury or an abuse of the courtroom course of?”
The discussion board additionally queried the switch of the case from the Rivers State Courts to Abuja, regardless of coordinated jurisdiction and equality of standing, at the same time as they urged the courts dealing with the Rivers political circumstances to take a look at the problems on their benefit and chorus from any bias to be able to keep the integrity of the judiciary.
“We marvel why the constitutional definition of the standing of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers has not been outlined by the courts for the previous yr, which is the kernel of the whole political imbroglio, whereas points that border on the native authorities elections have obtained an appellate resolution inside two months?”
He, nevertheless, lauded the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court docket of Attraction for establishing the authorized groups to overview all circumstances referring to the Rivers State political disaster, urging all stakeholders to prioritize peace, development, and progress of the state.
Prof. Obianime added, “As elders, we’ve additionally seen that it’s different people who find themselves combating and main our circumstances. We align ourselves with Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a gentleman who has determined to hold the Rivers State matter as a campaign on his head.
“Due to this fact, we plead with all lovers of goodwill and good governance to assist Hon. Ugochinyere. We wish to additionally say, as a folks, we love our associates. This state (Rivers) is a multi-ethnic settlement the place all method of individuals come to do enterprise.
“So we count on folks of fine conduct, all lovers of peace, and all those that love prosperity within the gates of Port Harcourt and Rivers State basically to assist Hon. Ugochinyere, and the Nationwide Meeting specifically.
“That any individual amongst you (NASS) is main a gaggle of individuals amongst you to say we should do the suitable factor, the Nationwide Meeting ought to look inwards and are available to the help and assist of Ugochinyere to finish this political disaster in our state.
“We can’t proceed like this, the place a gaggle of individuals will suppose that they’re above the regulation. The regulation should take its course.”
It was recalled that the political disaster between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, broke out on October 30, 2023, with the failed try and impeach the Governor.
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