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Tag: Wike

  • Account for over N40 trillion LGA allocations or face legal action, SERAP tells 36 governors, Wike

    Account for over N40 trillion LGA allocations or face legal action, SERAP tells 36 governors, Wike

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the 36 state governors in the country and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike to “disclose details of federal allocations meant for local governments in your state and the FCT and the actual disbursement of the allocations to the local governments since the return of democracy in 1999.”

    SERAP also urged them “to promptly invite Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments in your state and the FCT since May 1999.”

    Former president Muhammadu Buhari had in December 2022 stated that, “If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100m, N50m will be sent to the chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.’”

    In the freedom of information requests dated 27 January 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Nigerians have the right to know the details of actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations in your state and the FCT.”

    SERAP said, “States and the FCT should be guided by transparency and accountability principles and proactively publish information pertaining to their actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments.”

    According to SERAP, “Opacity in the amounts of federal allocations actually disbursed to local governments in your state has continued to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens and the public interest.”

    The FoI requests, read, in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state and the FCT to comply with our requests in the public interest.”

    “Transparency in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments is fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions, and strengthen the rule of law.”

    “Implicit in the freedom of expression is the public’s right to know what governments are doing on their behalf, without which truth would languish and people’s participation in government would remain fragmented.”

    “Transparency would ensure that the allocations are not diverted into private pockets, and increase public trust that the money would be used to benefit Nigerians resident in these local government areas.”

    “SERAP is seriously concerned that years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of federal allocations meant for local governments have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services in several states.”

    “Ensuring transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations in your state would also improve the enjoyment by Nigerians of their right to natural wealth and resources.”

    “You have a legal responsibility to promote transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in your state, and to ensure that the allocations are dully and fully disbursed to the local governments.”

    “SERAP is concerned that despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the culture of impunity of perpetrators.”

    “Combating the corruption epidemic in the spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in your state would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods, and enhance the ability of the local governments to effectively and efficiently discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.”

    “According to our information, the 36 states in Nigeria and the federal capital territory, Abuja, have collected over N40 trillion federal allocations meant for the 774 local governments areas in the country and FCT.”

    “The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed to states N225.21 billion federal allocations meant for local governments in November 2023 alone. States also collected N258,810,449,711.47 federal allocations meant for local government areas in December 2023.”

    “However, there is opacity in the actual disbursement of federal allocations to the local government areas in your state. States and the FCT have over the years failed and/or refused to disclose the portion of federal allocations that are disbursed by state governors.”

    “SERAP notes that former president Muhammadu Buhari recently alleged that state governors routinely pocket or divert federal allocations meant for local governments areas in their states.”

    “According to Buhari, ‘If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.’”

    “SERAP also urges you to provide details of the transparency and accountability mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that the trillions of naira of federal allocations that have been received by your state and the FCT are not embezzled, misappropriated or diverted into private pockets.”

    “Section 162(6) of Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides that each state shall maintain a ‘State Joint Local Government Account’ into which all allocations to local government councils from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State shall be paid.”

    “Section 162(5) makes it mandatory that amounts standing to the credit of the councils will be allocated to the States for the benefit of their local government councils.” “Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on your state to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”

    “SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”

    “Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on your state to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.”

    “The public interest in publishing the information sought outweighs any considerations to withhold the information. Nigerians are entitled to the right to receive information without any interference or distortion, and the enjoyment of this right should be based on the principle of maximum disclosure.”

  • Sleeping with one eye open: Story of FCT residents

    Sleeping with one eye open: Story of FCT residents

    By Kayode Adebiyi

    Mr Collins Orji resides in Karu, a suburb of Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory. He used to undertake a road walk as a form of exercise between 5:00am and 6:00am before going to work.

    But this is no longer the case in recent times, no thanks to the state of insecurity in the FCT which has escalated. Orji has made some adjustments to his routine.

    “Waking up at 5:00am to exercise now feels like an extreme sport so I’ve adjusted to 30 minutes, between 6:00am and 6:30am.

    “There have been cases of robbery by criminals who target early risers. The other day, two men with knives snatched the handbag of a lady while I was walking,” he said.

    As for Edoh Ajene, a resident of Kubwa, another suburb of the FCT, his biggest worry is ‘one-chance’. Edoh said at least six colleagues of his have fallen victim to one chance this year.

    One-chance is used to describe a kind of heist involving criminals who disguise as commercial transporters to rob, harm and sometimes kill their victims.

    It is particularly dangerous because it offers little or no escape route for victims.

    “When Abuja was safe, you just wave any vehicle going your direction and enter without suspicion. These days, commuting to and from the city centre involves a serious vetting process,” he said.

    Ajene also said that, apart from the general insecurity in the FCT, the removal of fuel subsidy also contributes to the increased cases of one-chance.

    “People are looking for cheaper means of transportation. So, if a vehicle charges less than the usual price for a ride, people are tempted to throw caution to the wind and just hop in,” he said.

    The case of Greatness Olorunfemi, who was stabbed and thrown out of a moving vehicle along the Maitama-Kubwa highway on Sept. 26, 2023, became a rallying point for a call to action.

    Apart from knife crimes and one-chance, the biggest security worry for residents of Abuja and its environs is the issue of kidnapping for ransom.

    Several reports suggest that this year alone close to 30 people have been abducted.

    Gunmen have abducted a family of seven in Zuma 1 in the Bwari Area Council and nine in Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse.

    Some security experts are suggesting that cases of abduction in the FCT are underreported because families of victims, who have little trust in the security agencies in the first place, are threatened into silence.

    Nextier Violent Conflict Database partly attributes the surge in insecurity in the FCT to the general insecurity and unrest sweeping through many parts of the country.

    “For instance, the capital city and a few of the most violent states in Nigeria, located in the country’s northwest and central regions, are adjacent,” it said.

    Some residents fear that, as far as kidnapping for ransom is lucrative and kidnappers have the means to act, they will continue to terrorise societies.

    “Look at the case of Dutse, those criminals came with sophisticated weapons and were in military uniforms. They were daredevils and they possessed the tools,” Michael, who lives in Dutse, said.

    The Terrorism (Prohibition and Prevention) Act of 2022, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, criminalises payment of ransom to free a kidnapped person. It is meant to dissuade rewarding criminals.

    Section 24 of the law provides that: “A person, who knowingly or intentionally – seizes, detains, or attempts to seize or detain a person, property, or facility in order to compel a third party to do or abstain from doing a lawful act; threatens to kill, injure or continue to detain a person in order to compel a third party to do or abstain from doing a lawful act; or gives an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the person held hostage, or the property or facility detained, commits an offence.”

    It also provides that: “A person, who commits an offence under subsection (1) of this section, is liable on conviction – where death does not result from the act, to life imprisonment; or where death results from the act, to a death sentence.”

    However, families of victims of kidnapping are often on record admitting that they paid ransom, even when security agencies deny such.

    For instance, the family of the Al-Kadriyar girls who were among the 23 persons kidnapped on Jan. 2 told a national newspaper that they paid ransom to bandits for the release of their five girls.

    Stakeholders therefore argue that the focus of the law should be on punishing criminals not discouraging families of victims anxious for their loved ones to regain freedom.

    Security experts say if the efficacy of the law is strengthened and justice is served through it, it would serve as a deterrent.

    “So far kidnappers don’t see any reason to stop. There are few or no consequences for their atrocities, both in terms of fighting them and bringing them to justice,” Michael said.

    The Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike says government is doing its best to make the territory safe for residents even as he has urged traditional rulers to render a helping hand.

    “Traditional rulers have a role to play in securing their domain. You know those around your domain.

    “If there are faces that you think are not familiar within that axis, it is within your powers to report such faces or call your area council chairman to be able to make a report to security agencies or my office so that actions can be taken,” Wike told a FCT-graded chiefs and area council chairmen.

    While acknowledging that there is security in the FCT, Wike said it was not proper to paint the situation in alarming perspective.

    “You cannot stop total crime. Let somebody tell me as a professional that there is anywhere in this world where there is no crime.

    “Because kidnapping happened last night in one or two places, therefore, there is insecurity in the whole of FCT. That is not correct”, he said at during a recent media chat.

    But stakeholders want the FCT Administration to do more by collaborating with the security agencies to tackle the menace.

    “This is an abduction epidemic you don’t blame on political distractors. You work with relevant security agencies, support them with resources and equipment, and spur them into action,” Orji said.

    Others advise that the entire national security architecture should be overhauled, as a result of current and evolving threats to national security which the present structure is too weak to solve.

    There are push and pull factors on why violent crimes have escalated in the FCT, including socioeconomic issues, failure of systems, etc.

    However, for residents of the FCT to be able to feel safe again, the security agencies must step up intelligence, leverage technology and ensure that every corner of the territory has adequate security presence.

    NAN

  • Wike should tell me his plans on tackling insecurity – FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe

    Wike should tell me his plans on tackling insecurity – FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe

    The Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe has urged the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to disclose his plans on how to curb the kidnapping, and killing happening in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Kingibe, made this known while speaking on the security crisis rocking the capital city during a Channels TV program on Sunday.

    She said that when the Senate resumes plenary, the Minister would be summoned to explain his plan to tackle the security crisis.

    “It is not that I am hoping. I know he will be summoned. But whether he responds or not is a different matter entirely. But as the chief security officer of the FCT, he should have a plan.

    “He should be able to tell us, the committee, and specifically me, that this is the plan for protecting the people of the FCT. Between him, the police commissioner, and the head of the DSS, they must have a plan”, the Senator said.

    The lawmaker further disclosed that there is a “disconnect” between her and the FCT Minister, accusing the latter of ignoring her messages and letters in the wake of insecurity in the area.

  • Wike behind insecurity in FCT – Deji Adeyanju

    Wike behind insecurity in FCT – Deji Adeyanju

    Asocio-political activist, Deji Adeyanju has blamed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike for the rising insecurity in Abuja.

    He said the destruction of their livelihood had led to the resorting to kidnappings and other crimes in FCT as a means of sustenance.

    A statement by Adeyanju reads: “Rather than adequately relocating these individuals and providing them with alternative means of sustenance, the Minister has callously sent them to the streets, exacerbating the desperation and criminal activities in the city.

    “The Minister’s negligence and failure to address their needs and concerns have inadvertently created a vicious cycle of crime and victimization.

    “It is important to note that, when the poor no longer have what to eat, they will eat the rich.

    “It is time for the FCT Minister to fulfill his duty and for the security agencies to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the lives and dignity of the people.

    “The residents of Abuja deserve nothing less than a safe and secure environment in which to live, work, and thrive.”

  • No project has stopped under Tinubu’s watch – Wike

    No project has stopped under Tinubu’s watch – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, expressed excitement that no project initiated by the FCT Administration had stopped under President Bola Tinubu’s watch.

    Wike, who stated this after an inspection tour of some of the projects in Abuja, said that most of the projects would be completed and commissioned by Tinubu in the next few months.

    Wike, on assumption into office in August 2023 as the FCT Minister, resuscitated some abandoned projects, particularly roads and other public facilities.

    Some of the projects include the rehabilitation of Abuja Rail Mass Transit System, construction of Nigeria Cultural Centre and Millennium Tower, rehabilitation of Federal Secretariat, completion of the Vice President’s Residence and resurfacing of existing roads.

    Others are the completion of road B6, B12 and Circle Road in Abuja Central Area, full scope development of Northern N-20 Expressway in Jahi District, from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway.

    Also penciled for completion is the expansion of Outer Southern Expressway from Villa Roundabout to Osex/Ring Road I Junction, including four interchanges and provision of access road to Kabusa Garden Estate.

    Wike also promised to complete the construction of Southern Parkway from Christian Centre to Ring Road I, and the rehabilitation of National Christian Centre and National Mosque.

    “Since President Tinubu came on board, no work has stopped in all the sites. There are so many of these sites, but it will be difficult to take them all at the same time.

    “We believe that after May, and before December, some of the projects will be handed over to the members of the public.

    “The inspection is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects, particularly those we have promised the public that God willing, by May this year, the projects will have been completed.

    “What we did today was to go round to see for ourselves whether the contractors are meeting up with expectations,” Wike said.

    The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the road construction and resurfacing so far, particularly at Guzape Lot II, which he said was going on very fast.

    He said that the contractor, Gilmor Construction Company, “is doing all it can to meet up the date line, and we believe they are going to accomplish it.

    “Except for one setback, where a lawmaker is stopping the contractor from further construction of one of the roads.

    “We are not going to take it lightly. This is not a private project: it is a public project handled by the FCT Administration.

    “If there is any complaint, we think that whoever has a problem should complain to us and not go and use police to stop a legitimate company, carrying out construction work for the use of the public.

    “These projects were approved by the Federal Executive Council,” he said.

    The minister directed the contractor to go ahead with the road construction, adding that the project was part of those to be commissioned by President Tinubu in May.

    Wike, who also inspected the B6 and B12 road, Independence Avenue, in Central Area, being handled by Julius Berger, also expressed satisfaction with the progress of work.

    “The representative of the company said that in May, they will hand it over. We are very happy,” he said.

    Wike, however, complained that the security barriers erected by the Central Bank of Nigeria have constituted an obstruction to the ongoing road project in the area.

    The minister, who said the obstruction would not be accepted, said: “One thing with institutions is that, when they apply for land and we give them, they go beyond what was given to them to cause obstruction.

    “I have always said, anything for the public, we will not take for granted. So, we want the central bank to allow us to use what belongs to us for the interest of the public.

    “By and large, we are very very happy with what we have seen,” Wike said.

    In a related development, the minister expressed dissatisfaction with some of the contractors handling some of the road resurfacing projects in parts of the city.

    Wike, in a meeting with some of the contractors, after the inspection tour, said unofficial visits to some of the project sites revealed some inactivity in those sites.

    He asked the contractors to show him where they were working, adding that nobody collected mobilisation and would not show seriousness.

    “I have also said before and will continue to say it; we will not award contracts when we don’t have money. Any contract that is awarded since I came on board, know that there is cash backing.

    “I am not talking before; I am talking about since the inception of President Tinubu’s government. There is no need for awarding contracts when there is no cash.

    “So, having mobilised you, I was thinking by now, we would have seen a lot of equipment on sites.

    He asked the contractors to tell him the sections each of their companies were handling, “where they are working, and what stage they are at, and I am tired of memo.

    “No, I don’t want a memo again, what I want is seeing physical presence, I am tired of memo,” Wike repeated.

    The minister, who said he was not happy with the resurfacing contracts awarded in December 2023, asked the contractors to indicate if they are not ready to deliver as agreed.

    NAN

  • Wike orders clampdown on street lights vandals in FCT

    Wike orders clampdown on street lights vandals in FCT

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has directed security agencies to clampdown on criminals vandalising street lights in the federal capital, Abuja.

    Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), disclosed this in an interview with NAN, in Abuja on Monday.

    Recall that Wike, on assumption of duty as FCT Minister, identified the restoration of street lights as one of his cardinal agenda to light up the city, as part of efforts to make Abuja a befitting capital city.

    However, while efforts were ongoing to restore and make all streetlights functional across the city, some miscreants resorted to vandalising the facilities. particularly the solar-powered ones in some parts of the city.

    While noting that street lighting of the FCT had improved drastically in line with the directive of the FCT Minister, Olumuji acknowledged that the ongoing sabotage by unidentified criminals.

    He said that the FCTA Department of Security Service had received reports on the vandalisation of the streetlights, taking place mostly in the middle of the night.

    He said the reports indicated that the miscreants target the solar-powered streetlights, their batteries, solar panels, and the lightning mechanisms, including the poles.

    “The streetlights were bought with taxpayers’ money and installed to brighten the city at night and ensure that FCT is secured, but sadly, some criminal elements among us are vandalising them.

    “This is sad,” he said.

    He disclosed that the FCT Minister had directed the Police Commissioner, FCT Command, in charge of internal security to clampdown on the criminals sabotaging ongoing efforts to light up the city.

    He added that the officer in charge of critical infrastructure and national assets at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps was equally asked to work with the police to track and arrest the culprits.

    “The minister had directed the security agencies to ensure that all the miscreants that go about vandalising streetlights are apprehended and prosecuted to end the wicked act.

    “They are making progress and soon, some of the vandals apprehended would be paraded and taken to court for prosecution.

    “The streetlights were installed for the benefit of all residents and to enable people to move freely within the city at night.

    “However, you cannot vandalise the streetlights and still complain that the government is not doing anything.,” he said.

    Olumuji said that while there are plans to replace the vandalised streetlights, residents should learn to take ownership of facilities installed in their areas by reporting any suspicious movement to security agencies.

    He explained that good illumination improves security within the city because no criminal element wants to operate under the glare of light.

    “They always carry out their trade under darkness.

    “So, when you have all the streetlights working, it improves and aids better security of lives and properties,” he added.

  • How Obaseki betrayed 2020 agreement with Hon Ogbeide-Ihama – Wike

    How Obaseki betrayed 2020 agreement with Hon Ogbeide-Ihama – Wike

    Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike has lamented what he claims as the betrayal of Engr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama despite painfully sacrificing his 2020 governorship aspiration to allow Governor Godwin Obaseki win re-election.

    Speaking at a New Year banquet in Port-Harcourt, Wike alleged that he along with several other governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP sat for 12 straight hours to persuade Ogbeide-Ihama to step down his governorship aspiration despite being the frontrunner to pick the 2020 ticket.

    According to him as a condition for stepping down, promises were made to Ogbeide-Ihama and the Dan Orbih led leadership of the party among which was the nomination of four commissioners.

    However, Wike lamented that none of the agreements reached between Obaseki and the PDP leadership of the party was fulfilled.

    He spoke against the background of growing sentiments by party leaders for Ogbeide-Ihama to pick the 2024 ticket of the PDP.

    Wike said:

    “When the heat was on in Edo State, this young man (Ogbeide-Ihama) was the frontrunner for the governorship election.

    “PDP governors came, they spoke to me, we met in Government House, Port Harcourt from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am the next day.

    “When you don’t want to do your own part you bring blackmail and propaganda. This young man…I told him, we should tell Orbih, withdraw, don’t run for this governorship again.

    “I said don’t run. We then agreed what will be given to their group. He spent so-so amount of money, give them four commissioners, but not one was kept.

    “And then the next you will see, blackmail, Wike wants to control this, Wike wants to control that, but you didn’t know Wike wants to control when you came to Government House Port Harcourt to sit from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am.”

    Ogbeide-Ihama following his decision to step down for Obaseki became his campaign coordinator for Oredo Federal Constituency and his chief agent at the INEC Collation Centre in the election.

  • Resident Kicks Against Wike Task Force On Issuance Of Certificate Of Occupancy In FCT

    Resident Kicks Against Wike Task Force On Issuance Of Certificate Of Occupancy In FCT

    The new policy of the minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike is causing fears and concerns on the alleged plans by the FCTA to issue C of O’s for Mass housing projects and recovery of land use contraventions fee in the FCT.

    The new policy may open floodgate of the fresh litigation against FCTA and some of these private real estate developers as there are a lot of pending cases against FCTA and some of these Private estate developers that are unresolved.

    One of the residents in Abuja, Abubakar Umar who is reacting to the inauguration of a task force by the minister in Nov. 2023 on the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for Mass housing developments and recovery of land use contravention fees in FCT, Abuja.

    He expressed concern that this new policy is perceived by the residents of FCT as a smoke screen by some influential private real estate developers in cohort with some faceless personnel in FCTA to legitimize their title on lands that they forcibly grabbed from innocent Nigeria.

    Abubakar Umar is worried that some of the members of the task force have vested interest in land administration which may lead to conflict of interest, wondering why previous policies aimed at sanitising land administration and the development of FCT, Abuja failed.

    He noted that in 2012 FCTA initiated the land swap policy which enables the government to allocate lands to private real estate developers to provide infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity in exchange for a percentage of build able plots in the districts but majority of the developers turned around to sell off the plots without any benefits whatsoever to the government.

    It would be recalled that while inaugurating the task force, the minister directed that all allottees or owners of the land or properties affected or interested shall pay N3,500,000 within four months starting from the date of the inauguration of the committee.

    The minister was also said to have directed the task force to make provisions for land allottees in the Area Council’s who do not have a certificate of occupancy for their plots to enable them to get the land documents.

    Umar however, appealed to the minister to reconstitute the committee with a view to incorporating members if the Civil Society Organisation and the general public for transparency and accountability.

    He also urged the minister to ensure that all court orders or judgments concerning any land in the FCT are obeyed by the FCTA including the task force and the private developers of real estate.

    Umar noted that before this task force could succeed all pending application for re-certifcation for Area Council allocation for which payments if the processing of C of O’s have been made to AGIS, should be processed and C of O’s issued to the applicants

  • Aso Villa Meeting: Wike, Fubara end feud, sign agreement document

    Aso Villa Meeting: Wike, Fubara end feud, sign agreement document

    Rivers state Governor, Sim Fubara and his immediate predecessor, Nyesom Wike have agreed to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign in the state.

    An agreement was reached after President Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders met with the two warring factions late on Monday night..

    It was learned that a document was signed by both Fubara and Wike where it was agreed that all impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara by the Rivers State House of Assembly should be dropped immediately.

    It also directed that all matters instituted in the courts by Fubara, and his team, in respect of the political crisis in the state “shall be withdrawn IMMEDIATELY”.

    Other directives according to the document read, “The leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly as led by the Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule shall be recognized alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP.

    “The remunerations and benefits of ALL members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their staff must be reinstated immediately and the Governor of Rivers State shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “The Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference and/or hindrance from the Executive arm of government.

    “The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Fubara, shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “The names of ALL commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council who resigned their appointments because of the political crisis in the state should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval.

    “There should not be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers State. The dissolution of the Local Government administration is null and void and shall not be recognized.”

  • Fubara vs Wike: Rivers becomes Edo, PDP clever by half over members’ defection – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    Fubara vs Wike: Rivers becomes Edo, PDP clever by half over members’ defection – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    The crisis in the Rivers State polity is escalating and cascading in line with the advice of supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara – and literally as demanded by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – to adopt the Governor Godwin Obaseki playbook of taking no prisoners, to deal with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, for meddling in the running of affairs of the state.

    The Fubara backers’ bare-knuckle approach, and PDP’s demand converge at commencing the assault on Wike from the Rivers State House of Assembly, to flush out pro-Wike 27 lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and install as the de facto the Fubara-backed four PDP members of the assembly. The 27 APC members decamped from the PDP on December 11.

    For perspective, Governor Obaseki of Edo State adopted a scorched-earth approach to dealing with his “political enemies” when he’d his back against the wall after he’s denied the APC ticket for re-election in the September 2020 governorship.

    Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole – as national chairman of the APC – frustrated Obaseki from obtaining the APC ticket. Obaseki then decamped, secured the PDP ticket, and defeated the APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on the basis of a voter-backlash against Oshiomhole.

    For vendetta, Obaseki prompted the suspension of Oshiomhole by his APC ward executive in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, and eventual sack by the courts as APC’s national chairman.

    Obaseki also ruled Edo for four years with a minority 10 members in the 24-member Edo State House of Assembly. While defying court orders to inaugurate the majority 14 APC members until their supposed tenure lapsed in June 2023, Obaseki housed the minority members at the Osadebey Avenue Government House in Benin City, as he dismantled the House of Assembly complex under the guise of rehabilitation.

    In-like manner, Governor Fubara’s supporters have recommended the Obaseki tactics to him: to demolish and lock-up the Rivers Assembly; relocate the four PDP members to the Government House; revoke the certificate of occupancy and demolish Wike’s house in Port Harcourt; and probe the Wike administration, of which Fubara was Accountant-General. That’s a call for Fubara to probe himself!

    Fubara – perhaps made of sterner stuff than his mien portrays – has bought the warmongers’ counsel to assault Wike, beginning with the assembly demolition, and legally, proxily declaring vacant the seats of the 27 APC members.

    This accords with the call by the PDP on the Speaker Edison Ehie-led four-member chamber to declare vacant the 27 APC members’ seats, to enable INEC conduct fresh election into those state constituencies, “by virtue of the provision of Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” as relayed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.

    Mr Ologunagba said: “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.”

    Ologunagba added: “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.”

    But Ologunagba cleverly avoided highlighting an exception to the rule in a proviso to Section 109(1)(g), which caveats that:

    “Provided that his (defector’s) membership of the latter political party is not as a result of division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or faction by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

    The PDP knows the truth: that the law won’t avail the party’s request, as the defectors breached no provisions of the Constitution, especially if they can prove that going by the reality on the ground, there’s division in the PDP, particularly in the Rivers chapter, which’s on all fours with the provision of Section 109(2) regarding division in their previous political party.

    So, the PDP’s only option is recourse to the court, to restrain the 27 APC members, to pave the way for a four-member legislature for the Fubara government. And that’s what the party did on December 12 through minority Speaker Edison Ehie of the Rivers assembly.

    Presented with a golden opportunity, the PDP directed the Speaker of its four members in the 32-member assembly, to declare vacant the seats of the 27 APC members, and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections into the 27 state constituencies within the stipulated period.

    To achieve the goal, a Port Harcourt high court, presided by Justice Monina Danagogo, on December 12, restrained the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule and Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol of the majority 27 APC lawmakers from accessing the assembly for any legislative duties.

    While the judge recognised the minority Speaker Ehie as the “authentic Speaker” of the House of Assembly, and dangled a “contempt of court” before Mr Amaewhule, if he forcefully gained entry into the assembly, or disrupted the legislative activities of the Ehie-led four-member chamber, he adjourned hearing of the motion on notice to December 21.

    And pronto, minority Speaker Ehie declared vacant the seats of the 27 APC members, and directed INEC to fill the seats in a fresh election. So, Governor Fubara and the PDP have secured, by legal means, what social media warmongers had advised Fubara to do: to demolish and shut the assembly on the pretext of renovation, as a result of thugs setting the complex on fire, to prevent alleged moves to impeach Fubara.

    The Rivers chapter of the APC has threatened to report Justice Danagogo to the National Judicial Council (NJC), for what the chapter’s Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, described as a “jankara (procured) judgment” given by the judge.

    Accusing the judge of bias, Mr Okocha, in a statement on December 12, said: “Today, Rivers people woke up to hear that one Justice Danagogo of the Rivers State High Court granted, with impunity, an exparte order to one Hon. Edison Ehie, recognizing him as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “It will be recalled that the same Hon. Edison had approached a Federal High Court in Rivers State, seeking to be declared as Speaker in the case in issue; arguments have been taken and judgement reserved for January 2024.

    “Surprisingly today, on same subject matter, Justice Danagogo granted an exparte order purporting to recognize Hon. Edison as Speaker of the Assembly. This is flagrant abuse of court processes.

    “The judge claimed that the case was filed by Hon. Edison on October 30, 2023, and assigned to him on November 1, 2023. For all these length of time, if the subject matter required urgency, why did the judge wait till today, December 12, 2023 to grant an exparte order?”

    Okocha recalled that 27 PDP members of the Rivers assembly publicly cross-carpeted to the APC on December 11, citing irreconcilable crisis in the PDP – “a move supported by Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” – and they were “handsomely received” by the Rivers APC.

    “It is the palpable fear of the irreparable loss and the concomitant chornout that has led to the procurement of an exparte order from the court of Justice Danagogo,” Okocha said.

    Noting that, “Justice Danagogo is younger brother to Dr. Tammy Danagogo, who serves in the Rivers State government as the Secretary to State Government,” Okocha accused the judge of berating the NJC, “who had decided against the granting of frivolous exparte by judges and have punished erring judges and justices who ventured.”

    “We use this medium to send notice, in advance, to the learned Judge that the APC Rivers State will not sit and watch the jankara exparte order in clear violation of principles of law (and) in clear violation of the NJC,” Okocha said, adding, “we shall be left with no option than to petition to the NJC if the Judge does not reverse himself immediately.”

    Saying that, “we know that the reason for this affront on democracy is to allow the governor to present the 2024 budget to the assembly,” Okocha queried: “Can four members of Rivers State House of Assembly sit in leadership over 31-member house with the other 27 members who have defected to APC?” (Well, the Speaker Ehie-led four-member chamber had deliberated and passed an N800bn 2024 budget in less than 24 hours, and the appropriation bill signed into law by Governor Fubara immediately it’s presented to him).

    In closing, Okocha advised Governor Fubara to “refrain from any action that may escalate the political tension orchestrated by his party, the PDP, in Rivers State.”
    “We as a party, APC, with the overwhelming majority in the House, shall not tolerate intimidation, harassment, hounding and threatening of our party members in whatsoever and howsoever way,” Okocha said.

    “We will not comply with the order (by Justice Danagogo) because you cannot place something on nothing. We will not allow illegality to stand. It (order) is procured and we will not allow it to happen.”

    For months, there’s been a running battle between Mr Wike and his political protégé, Mr Fubara. As the battleground, the House of Assembly was initially shut by the Police over arson to a part of the complex, which’s been demolished by the Rivers government.

    It’s no secret that Wike hand-picked Fubara, his Accountant-General, for the post of governor, and campaigned for him amid pressure from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), which declared Fubara wanted for alleged financial sleaze.

    Speculations indicate that Fubara signed a “gentleman’s agreement” to give Wike a “substantial” share in the composition of the State Executive Council (SEC) and a controlling stake in running of the government.

    According to the Wike camp, Fubara could hardly wait for Wike to take appointment in the ruling APC government of President Bola Tinubu “before he showed his colour of who he really is: a pretender, who hid his fangs under Wike’s administration in Rivers State.”

    Fubara’s declaration lately “never to surrender his mandate to intimidation and blackmail” may lend credence to the claim by the Wike camp. At the quarterly general meeting of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt, Fubara said:

    “Let us not forget that Rivers State is our collective inheritance, presently under my watch, to protect, defend and advance it as the governor.

    “I assure you that I will not fail in this responsibility nor will I surrender our mandate and progress to intimidation, blackmail and deliberate sabotage.”

    Relatedly, former Governor Oshiomhole had single-handedly picked Obaseki – who’s the nominal chairman of the Economic Strategy Team (EST) that secured financing for major projects of Oshiomhole’s administration – for governor in 2016, and vigorously campaigned for him to win the September election of that year.

    But no sooner Obaseki got into power than he revealed his real persona, accusing Oshiomhole – as Fubara did to Wike – of trying to dictate the pace of his government as a political godfather, thus feigning ignorance of the fact that had Oshiomhole not played the role of a godfather, his (Obaseki’s) governorship ambition would’ve been stillborn.

    At the peek of his assaults on Oshiomhole, Obaseki banned him from coming to Edo State without his express permission; engineered thugs to attack him at the Benin airport; deployed bulldozers and trucks to block access to Oshiomhole’s private residence in Benin City; revoked the certificates of occupancy and/or demolished private and business property of Oshiomhole’s associates; and sacked Oshiomhole’s aides in government.

    Fubara is also on a similar warpath in Rivers, directing Wike’s aides in government to resign or be sacked by today, December 18, even as several Commissioners had voluntarily resigned before the directive. Next maybe Wike’s house in Port Harcourt, which supporters had asked Fubara to revoke and demolish.

    Yet, these come as Fubara’s continued to sue for peace, and reaffirmed Wike as his “oga” (master), and that the “recent political events in the state belonged to the past.”
    It’s during rededication service of the 2023/2024 legal year of the Rivers State judiciary on November 9, where Wike’s present, shook hands with Fubara when he came into the church, and sat with him in the front pew for the service.

    In his speech, Fubara said: “My oga (referring to Wike) remains my oga. Whatever that has happened is in the past.

    “I want us to continue to pray for the peace and development of this state. I have not sent anybody (his supporters) to malign anybody (Wike).”

    But from current happenings, Fubara’s declaration was for the gods, and to the dogs. He appears to have crossed the rubicon, and wants to demytify and dismantle Wike’s political power, structure and machine in Rivers State, just as Obaseki did to Oshiomhole in Edo State.

    Can Fubara succeed, given that the same Wike, now ranged against him in Rivers State, was behind Obaseki’s assault on Oshiomhole? Wike, backing Obaseki to the hilt – financially and “judicially” – relocated to Benin City and neutralised all plans by Oshiomhole, the APC and then Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to defeat Obaseki during the 2020 governorship in Edo State.

    And for the fight for the soul of Rivers State, Wike, who’s labelled Fubara “an ingrate,” threw down the gauntlet at a media parley in Abuja, and dared Fubara to pick up the challenge.

    “Nobody can take away the political structure in Rivers,” Wike boasted. “Nobody can intimidate me. If I want to do something, I will do it. The impeachment (moves against Fubara) is not a military coup, it is provided under the (amended 1999) Constitution.”

    This led to the defection of 27 pro-Wike PDP lawmakers in the 32-member Rivers Assembly to the APC on December 11, who’ve been checkmated by Fubara-backed four PDP members, whose minority Speaker Ehie has been recognised by a Port Harcourt high court, as the “authentic Speaker” of the House.

    Interesting and anxious times ahead in Rivers State polity, as both camps in the Rivers State House of Assembly lay claim to the demolished chamber, and holding separate sessions to pass bills and resolutions for the growth and advancement of the state. The public watches and awaits the outcome of the escalating scenario!