TheNewsGuru

Tag: Rivers State

  • Rivers APC woos Wike to join party

    Rivers APC woos Wike to join party

    The All Progressive Congress(APC)in Rivers, on Monday urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike to join the party in the State.

    Its Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, made the remark while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt in reaction to the defection of the 27 lawmakers into the party from PDP.

    Okocha, who is also the State  Representative in the  Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), expressed joy over the steps taken by the defectors.

    He said that the party had been communicated officially by the  defectors, which made the defection true and not a rumour.

    Okocha commended the lawmakers for their bold steps in defecting to APC, saying that the remaining four members in the house cannot be equated to the 27 members.

    On whether or not the reason for defection was to prepare grounds for Wike to defect to APC, he said, ”I don’t think so.

    ”Whatever their reason is, when they get to the bridge they will cross it.

    “Wike is a politician whose name shakes and echoes in the society; so nobody can think or say for him if he will defect to APC or not”.

    Okocha said that the party in the state needed Wike to join it to assist it, adding,” we are not begging him to join; in 2023. he immensely aided the victory of APC in the state.”

    On claims that Wike will be in PDP till 2027 to aid its victory like he did for APC in 2023,, Okocha said, ”the party did not firmly see him do that.

    “The best thing we are asking him to do is to come and join the APC because it is the government in power.”

    On whether or not the lawmakers’ defection was a plan to impeach the sitting Gov. Fubara, Okocha said that the impeachment of a governor was not a one- day affair or a coup.

    He explained that the defectors did not tell him if their defection was to impeach the governor and as such, could not speak for them on that ground.

    Okocha explained. ”If the  state governor has decided to give vent to the four persons over above the 27 persons, then you know that it is a complete anatomy and would not be tolerated by anybody.”

    He said the state had gone past the era of 16 members being above 19 members like in the previous regime.

    Okocha said that the defectors allegedly confided in him that there was no good governance in the state.

    He said that the new entrants into APC  would be formally received into its fold on Sunday.

  • Rivers Crisis: Governor Fubara calls emergency EXCO meeting

    Rivers Crisis: Governor Fubara calls emergency EXCO meeting

    Rivers state governor, Sim Fubara has convened an emergency meeting with the members of the State Executive Council.

    The meeting is holding at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    Recall that about 27 members of the 32-member House of Assembly from the governing Peoples Democratic Party decamped today to the All Progressive Congress APC.

    It was gathered that the 27 member who defected are former governor, Nyesom Wike’s loyalists.

    Fubara called for the meeting following the defection of 27 members to the APC on Monday.

    The lawmakers had dumped PDP for APC during a sitting of the House.

    The lawmakers were seen brandishing the flags of the APC in a group photograph after the sitting.

    Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, have been at loggerheads over the party’s structure in the state.

  • BREAKING: PDP demands for fresh election in Rivers State

    BREAKING: PDP demands for fresh election in Rivers State

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election for 27 State Constituencies in Rivers State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is coming after 27 lawmakers of the PDP in the State House of Assembly defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to PDP in a statement by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the party, the 27 seats in the House of Assembly have become vacant by reason of the defection of the 27 lawmakers.

    Quoting Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the PDP cautioned the 27 lawmakers to stop parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    The statement reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demands that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should immediately commence the process of conducting fresh elections into the 27 State Constituencies in Rivers State which have become vacant by reason of the defection of the 27 former State lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The PDP asserts that by defecting from the PDP, the political Party platform on which they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, the seats of the respective 27 former lawmakers have become vacant by virtue of the provision of Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 109 (1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that “a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if … (g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political Party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected…”

    “By reason of the above Constitutional provision and its clear interpretation by the Supreme Court, the 27 defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have vacated and lost their seats, rights, privileges, recognition and obligations accruable to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “The PDP therefore demands that the Speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly immediately comply with the provision of the Constitution by declaring the seats of the 27 former lawmakers vacant.

    “In view of the vacancy now exiting in the 27 State Constituencies in Rivers State, the PDP demands that INEC should within the stipulated period under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) conduct fresh election to fill the vacancies.

    “Our Party cautions that the former lawmakers should stop parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as such would amount to impersonation with serious criminal consequences.

    “The PDP commends the people of Rivers State for their steadfastness and loyalty to Democracy and Rule of Law especially at this time”.

  • Why we dumped PDP for APC – Rivers lawmakers

    Why we dumped PDP for APC – Rivers lawmakers

    Factional members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, comprising of 27 lawmakers of the State, on Monday dumped their party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports defection of the lawmakers followed adoption of a resolution condemning the alleged withholding of funds for the management of the Assembly by the State government.

    The faction led by its Speaker, Mr Martin Amaewhule, made the disclosure at its 87th plenary in Port Harcourt, the State capital.

    The group comprising 27 legislators, accused the State Governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara of starving them of funds.

    The 27 lawmakers out of the 32 lawmakers of the House, thereafter, announced their defection to the APC.

    The defectors cited division in the PDP as the reason for crossing to the APC.

    Speaking after reading the letters signed by the defected lawmakers, Amaewhule directed the Clerk of the House to convey their resolution to the Governor and relevant authorities.

    According to him, the decision of the 27 lawmakers is borne out of the desire to serve the State better.

    Meanwhile, the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2023′ scaled through the second reading at the plenary.

  • Rivers Assembly gets new Majority Leader, Chief Whip

    Rivers Assembly gets new Majority Leader, Chief Whip

    Mr Major Jack (PDP- Akuku Toru 1) and Mr Frankline Nwabochi (PDP-Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 1) have emerged Majority Leader and Chief Whip of the Rivers House of Assembly.

    The new house leaders emerged and subsequently took oath of office following an election by 27 members during Wednesday’s plenary at the Assembly chamber.

    Commenting on their emergence, Speaker Martins Amaewhule (PDP- Obio/Akpor 1) congratulated the officers while also charging them to remain committed to their new responsibilities.

    Also Mr Enemi George (PDP-Asari Toru II) moved a motion to commend the speaker.

    The motion was unanimously supported by members as they extolled the sterling leadership qualities of the speaker and his team.

    In separate remarks, members applauded the house leadership for upholding the tenets of democracy.

    Similarly, the ‘Financial Autonomy Bill, 2023’ has scaled second reading.

    The speaker emphasised the importance of the bill and stated his conviction that when passed, the governor would assent to it.

    The speaker, however, alleged that the governor, Mr Siminialayi Fubara, had withheld the funds meant for management of the Assembly for the month of November.

    He assured of the readiness of the house to continue its constitutional functions, irrespective of negative distractions.

    The bill has also been referred to the House Committee on Public Accounts for hearing and other legislative scrutiny.

    The 32-member house had been operating in two factions since October, following the impeachment of the Majority Leader Edison Ehie.

    While Matins Amaewule retained 26 members, Edison Ehie had been operating with 4 members.

  • Wike-Fubara Power Tussle: ljaw group warns against resurgence of militancy in N/Delta

    Wike-Fubara Power Tussle: ljaw group warns against resurgence of militancy in N/Delta

    A militant group under the aegis of Ijaw Renaissance has warned that if the former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor Sim Fubara is not adequately handled Nigerians should expect a resurgence of another oil war in the Niger Delta region.

    This was contained in a statement issued and signed by its leader, Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli and White Kalio.

    Read full statement below:

    “We, members of ljaw Renaissance Force, a coalition of over O0 ethnic nationalities and youth groups operating in Rivers and Bayelsa, have watched with grave concern the ongoing power tussle between former Governor Nyesom Wike, now FCT Minister, and Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State.

    “We have also watched with baited breath attempts by some elected officials and other non state actors to stage manage the forceful removal rom office of duly elected Governor Fubara through the back door without any justifiable reason.

    On its part, our coalition have equally made spirited efforts and reached out to both parties and other critical stakeholders in the power struggle in a bid to let sanity prevail so as to uphold the sacred mandate of Rivers people for the good governance they so much desired.

    “We, therefore, state unequivocally that any attempted or vexed impeachment judicial stage managed removal of Gov. Sim Fubara from office would spell another return to the oil war struggle in Rivers.

    A word is enough for the wise.

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court affirms Fubara as Governor of Rivers

    BREAKING: Appeal Court affirms Fubara as Governor of Rivers

    The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has affirmed Siminalayi Fubara as the authentic Governor of Rivers State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Appeal Court affirmed Fubara as Rivers Governor in its ruling on Tuesday.

    The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had in October dismissed a petition filed by Patrick Tonye-Cole, challenging the election of Fubara as the Governor of the State.

    However, not satisfied with the Tribunal’s judgement, the APC candidate approached the appellate court to upturn the victory of the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

     

    Details shortly…

  • Again, Wike attacks Fubara, says he has destroyed the political structure in Rivers state

    Again, Wike attacks Fubara, says he has destroyed the political structure in Rivers state

    Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT)  has once again attacked Governor Simi Fubara of Rivers State, saying he disobeyed President Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

     

    According to Wike,  Fubara disobeyed the directive from Tinubu and Shettima to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State.

    In a media chat, the minister accused Fubara of destroying the political structure that made him governor.

    Wike said: “We never knew that it will take you three months to scatter the political structure that picked you up. What is painful is seeing these propaganda and lies that I was angry. Did he (Fubara) buy form? Be grateful in your life in all circumstances.

    “I will not allow anybody to crumble our political structure. I told him if you do this ring-road your second tenure would be assured, I took him to Germany to meet Julius Berger and they promised to do the road in three years which is the year leading to election. I told him if you do this road nobody will challenge you in Rivers State.

    “Anything that will make me disrespect Mr President count me out, he disobeyed the President, disobeyed the Vice President. When the law speaks, thuggery, militancy, and ethnicity will run away.”

  • APC dissolves EXCO in Rivers

    APC dissolves EXCO in Rivers

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday in Abuja, dissolved the party’s Rivers Executives at all levels.

    Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary announced this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the NWC’s meeting.

    Morka said the party’s NWC also appointed a seven-member Caretaker Committee to steer the APC’s affairs in Rivers for the next six months.

    He said Chief Tony Okocha would serve as the committee’s chairman and Chief Eric Nwibani as its Secretary.

    Other members of the committee he said, were, Mr Chibuike Ikenga, Mr Stephen Abolo, Silvester Vidin, Senibo Karibi Dan-Jumbo and Miss Darling Amadi.

    Morka said the caretaker committee was mandated to conduct a comprehensive and fresh electronic party registration of all APC members in the state.

    He said the committee was also subjected to the directives of the NWC and entrusted with preparing for the conduct of congresses to facilitate the emergence of new executive committees for the party at various levels in Rivers.

    This, he said, was from the ward to the state, adding that the committee would be inaugurated on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 at the party’s national secretariat.

  • Rivers State is under attack – Speaker

    Rivers State is under attack – Speaker

    The Rivers State House of Assembly said the state was currently under attack by individuals who did not want the legislature to deliver on its constitutional mandate.

    The Speaker, Mr Martins Amaewule, and his 26-member faction, unanimously condemned the burning of the assembly chamber during plenary on Tuesday.

    Members, therefore, called for arrest and prosecution of individuals found to be involved in the act.

    According to Amaewule, whenever the legislature of any state or nation is under attack, that state or nation is under attack too.

    ‘’Members of the legislature are representatives of the people but currently in Rivers, there is a problem because the legislature is under attack by some individuals who do not want it to perform its constitutional roles.”

    The house, also during the sitting being the 83rd legislative session, made a first reading on the State House of Assembly Funds Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2023.

    The bill, sponsored by 27 members, including the Speaker, was presented at the floor by Mr Enemi George (PDP – Asari Toru II).

    Explaining expectations of the bill, George noted that the bill sought to cater for the management of funds accruing to the assembly from the consolidated revenue fund of the state.

    He said the measure was to ensure accountability and efficient utilisation of funds and other related matters.

    George also noted that passage of the bill would promote independence of the legislature, accountability and efficient funds utilisation.

    The state has two factions of the assembly following the crisis that erupted on Oct. 30, resulting to the burning of the hallowed chamber of the House.

    The aftermath of the crisis led to the division in the assembly, with Speaker Amaewule leading 26 members while Mr Edison Ehie (PDP-Ahoada 11) leading four members as a speaker.