Politics
Governor Fubara’s judicial panel a witch hunt – Rivers APC chairman
“The Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the bombing of Local Government offices is just a witch hunt.
“The governor merely wants to use it to deal with his perceived enemies,” Okocha told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Gov Siminalayi Fubara recently inaugurated the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the arson, killings and destruction at various local government council secretariats in the state.
The seven-member panel, which has one month to conclude its assignment, has Justice Ibiwengi Minakiri as Chairman and Mrs. Inyingi Brown as Secretary.
It is expected to investigate the attacks and burning of local government councils’ secretariats on October 7, 2024, shortly after newly elected local government officers were sworn in.
Okocha, while faulting the governor’s action, said that there was no sincerity in it.
“The said election itself was illegal and, thus, a nullity.
“The governor has said that he knows the people that attacked the local government secretariats.
“If he knows the people, why not just ask the Police to arrest them? Why is he setting up a judicial commission of enquiry?”.
Okocha said that he would take the probe seriously if it is stretched to include all issues of arson that the state had suffered in the past.
“If the governor really wants justice, the terms of reference of the commission should be all-inclusive.
“All issues of bombing should be probed. The House of Assembly bombing should be probed.
“We also want the bombing of the APC State headquarters to be probed. We do not want selective probes. We want to see genuine search for justice.
“Let’s have a full package that involves all cases of arson. That is the only way the Rivers government can do justice,” he said.
On whether he would appear before the panel if invited to do so, Okocha said he would appear before it “if it will probe all incidents of arson in Rivers”.
“Yes, I will appear before the panel if all cases of arson in Rivers are included in its assignment,” he said.
Okocha regretted that the state had become “a Rivers of trouble”, and blamed the situation on “the man who should protect everyone”.
“The governor is supposed to be the chief law officer, but he has failed in that crucial task.
“We have a valid court judgement that stopped the local government election.
“It is that judgement that stopped the Police, security agencies and INEC from participating in the elections.
“Strangely, in spite of all, the governor went ahead with the elections. So, clearly, it is a nullity.”
On the cause of political upheavals in Rivers, Okocha declared that “Fubara is fighting himself”.
“The governor is fighting himself; the APC is only beginning to get strong now.
“We used to be just a social club as we have never won any election in Rivers.
“The PDP won the governorship seat in addition to the three Senate slots, the 12 seats in the House of Representatives and the 32 state assembly seats.
“So, it is one party fighting itself. The party was elected to serve, but what we are being served is trouble,” he fumed.
He said 14 people aspired to govern the state on the PDP platform, but Fubara, “the least of them”, got the ticket and became governor.
“It means he was favoured over others. People were ignored in his favour and they are angry. Those are the people fighting him,” Okocha said.
The APC chairman expressed optimism that Fubara’s squabble with his party would favour the APC in 2027.
“As the crisis festers, there is no project to Fubara’s name. He has not done anything to the Rivers people in close to two years.
“As a virile opposition, we are taking the governor on many issues.
“We want to demarket him so that we shall win the seat in 2027,” he said.
Okocha said that peace would have returned to Rivers State if Fubara had listened to President Bola Tinubu’s counsel.
“When Rivers was about to get burnt, President Tinubu stepped in to broker peace.
“He suggested that all court cases should be withdrawn and the Budget be re-presented before the House of Assembly.
“He also suggested that members of the House of Assembly should be given access to state matters.
“I recall that Fubara agreed and told Mr President that peace was priceless while terror was senseless, but we got a different thing when we returned home,” he said. (NAN)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated the newly elected executive members of the party in the North-East zone.
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who inaugurated the members on Monday in Bauchi, tasked them to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau, the governor said that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has failed Nigerians, hence the leadership of the PDP must develop strategies to enable it to wrestle power and meet the aspirations of the electorate.
“The APC has failed to deliver on its promises instead created more hardship for Nigerians and deepened poverty.
“It is time for a change, and the PDP is poised to reclaim the hopes and dreams of the Nigerian people,” he said.
He urged the new party executives to recognise the enormous responsibilities on their shoulders, stressing that, “they are the vanguard of change in the region.”
According to Mohammed, the next general election is not just about political power but the future of children, security, and overall wellbeing of Nigerians.
While assuring support to the party, Mohammed charged the leadership of the party to be change makers, leading with integrity, compassion and dedication to the people.
Responding, the Zonal Chairman of the party, Babangida Umar promised to work collectively to achieve the desired objectives. (NAN)
…I’m not afraid, victory is certain – Fubara
….Ex-Rivers LG Chairmen handover
The 27 members of Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule on Monday issued a 48 hours ultimatum to Governor Similanayi Fubara to present the 2025 state appropriation bill.
The development comes after the supreme judgement ordered Martins Amaewhule and the 26 other members of the Assembly loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to resume sitting as the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The 48 hours ultimatum was issued by the lawmakers during plenary in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Governor Fubara had on January 2nd , 2025 signed N1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law after it was presented to the Victor Oko Jumbo led 4 member house of Assembly.
Governor Fubara had in a state wide broadcast on Sunday said that he would implement the supreme court judgement without reservation after studying the content of the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the judgement.
In the meantime there is heavy security presence at the GRA Assembly quarters where the lawmakers use as their temporary chambers.
I’m not afraid, victory is certain – Fubara
Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured his supporters that victory is inevitable, despite the political challenges in the state.
He assured the immediate past council chairmen in attendance that there was no reason for concern.
Before addressing the crowd, Fuubara opened his speech with a passage from the Holy Bible, Philippians 3:18-19, emphasizing faith and resilience in the face of challenges.
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things,” the governor read.
“Despite everything, victory is sure,” he declared, stating that the struggle is not just about winning but about standing for truth and fighting gallantly.
Governor Fubara declared that the era of deception in Rivers State is over, emphasizing that the state is now determined to take control of its destiny.
While reaffirming his commitment to peace, Fubara stated that when the time comes, the necessary decisions will be made in the best interest of the state.
“I am not afraid of anything. The worst that can happen is for me to leave office,” he said, underscoring his resolve to stand by his principles.
Addressing the youth, the governor assured them that at the right time, they would receive the necessary direction.
While reacting to the Supreme Court’s ruling which nullified the local government elections and also ordered that the Martin Amaewhule-led group resume sitting, the governor maintained that the future holds greater promise than the past.
He pledged to complete his tenure with honour and integrity, ensuring that his decisions remain defensible.
Fubara also emphasized the need to counter political propaganda with evidence of purposeful governance, citing the ongoing inauguration of state projects as a testament to his administration’s commitment to progress.
He stated that the newly commissioned project was designed to enhance work efficiency among public servants in government houses.
Cross River chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has objected to the recall of the suspended state Chairman of the party, Mr Venatius Ikem, by the National Working Committee (NWC).
This is contained in a statement issued by the state Secretary of the party, Mr Anthony Edako, on Monday in Calabar.
The party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) insisted that the chairman remained suspended until NWC and stakeholders met to decide otherwise.
According to the party, any purported decision to reinstate the suspended chairman without first having an expanded meeting to look into SEC’s complaint is null and void.
“We have been made aware of a letter circulating on social media, purportedly written by the national organising secretary reinstating the suspended state chairman.
“We wish to state categorically state that this letter is null and void, as it did not emanate from the proper channel having the authority to write such a letter,” the statement said.
The party said that only the national chairman and national secretary were authorised to write such a letter.
“So, the national oganising secretary overstepped his bounds, and his actions are consequently deemed ultra-vires,” it said.
The secretary recalled that on Nov. 20, 2024, NWC dismissed the suspension of the chairman of Cross River Chapter of PDP, Venatius Ikem, which was made on Nov. 15, 2024.
“The reason for the dismissal of the suspension was communicated to the SEC of the party.
“Consequently, the SEC of the party, on Nov. 22, 2024, suspended the state chairman based on the recommendation of the disciplinary committee of the state and communicated same to the national,” he said.
He further stated that SEC was invited by the NWC and after deliberations, it was unanimously agreed that NWC should convene a meeting with stakeholders from Cross River to determine Ikem’s fate.
“The meeting between the NWC and stakeholders from Cross River has not been convened yet.
“The meeting is a crucial step in ensuring that the decision-making process is transparent, fair and in line with our party’s constitution,” he said.
The secretary said that any purported decision taken to reinstate the suspended chairman without first having the expanded meeting to look into SEC’s complaint was, therefore, null and void.
He urged party members and stakeholders to disregard the said letter and continue to recognise the suspended chairman as such. (NAN)