Critical stakeholders in the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State have reached a consensus to address the protracted conflict, marking a pivotal moment in the quest for communal harmony.
At a momentous gathering convened by President Bola Tinubu at the esteemed Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, an atmosphere of collaboration swept through the assembly as Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former governor of the state, Peter Odili, and the immediate past Governor, Nyesom Wike, alongside other key stakeholders, engrossed themselves in deliberations aimed at fostering reconciliation.
In a momentous declaration inked on Monday night, the President issued a directive for the expeditious withdrawal of all legal actions instituted by the governor and his cohorts, signaling a tangible stride towards amicable resolution. The resolution further mandated the prompt cessation of any impeachment procedures initiated against the governor by the state House of Assembly.
The signing ceremony, attended by Fubara, Wike, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly Martin Amaewhule, PDP Chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka, and APC Chairman Tony Okocha, solidified a momentous accord poised to realign the political landscape of Rivers State.
The pivotal resolution underscored the formal recognition of the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the stewardship of Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, in conjunction with the 27 members who tendered their resignations from the PDP. Integral to the accord, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their support staff are set to have their remunerations and benefits expeditiously reinstated, with an unequivocal directive restraining the Governor of Rivers State from impeding the Assembly’s financial sustenance.
In acknowledgment of the distressing state of the Rivers State House of Assembly edifice, Tinubu stipulated that the lawmakers be accorded the liberty to choose an unencumbered venue for the conduct of legislative affairs, devoid of any interference or obstruction from the Executive arm of government.
Moreover, Fubara, who previously presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a select group of Assembly members, is set to re-present the state budget to a duly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly, embodying a symbolic gesture of inclusivity and governance legitimacy.
In a parallel vein, the President’s directive called for the resubmission of the names of all commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council who tendered their resignations amid the state’s political strife, affirming that their endorsements should be subjected to the approval of the House of Assembly. Additionally, the dissolution of the Local Government administration was unequivocally voided, with a categorical prohibition on the establishment of any caretaker committees for the local governments in Rivers State.
The culmination of this historic agreement stands as a testament to the power of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving the most entrenched disputes, signifying a momentous stride towards harmony and concord in Rivers State.
