Embattled 27 pro-wike lawmakers have been advised not to think of impeaching Rivers state Governor Siminalayi Fubara now.
Erstwhile National Publicity Secretaty of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, gave the advice in a statement made available to media house, on Monday.
He warned that the idea would not only backfire on them but also disrupt the nation’s nascent democracy which we are trying to Institute’.
While cautioning the Amaewhule led lawmakers to bury such thought, Eze urged them to be circumspect and mindful of the kind of orders they take from the Fedral Capital Territorry Minister, Nyesom Wike, stressing that he does not mean well for the state, adding that they should be careful not to make themselves willing tools in his hands.
Eze in the statement contered the interpretations that greeted the judgement of the Appeal Court by the pro-Wike group.
“The verdict did not touch on the vacancy or otherwise of the seats of the defected former lawmakers who voluntarily yielded-up their positions upon their exit from PDP – the party on which platform they were elected into office, and whose seats were declared vacant on the 13th day of December, 2023 by the RT. Hon. Edison Ehie, then Speaker of the Assembly.
“Section 109(i) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria is automatic and needs no judicial interpretation to take effect.
“The former lawmakers should wake up from the euphoria of the false narrative adopted and sold to them by their team of judgement interpreters whose exciting but vague interpretations cannot help their situation.
“Nonetheless, given that Section 109(i) (g) takes automatic effect upon the defection of a member of a State House of Assembly, one would have loved to see the Court of Appeal oder a stay of proceedings on the matter to allow the determination of the question of whether or not the 27 former Lawmakers are still members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Judicial officers especially Judges, must be wary of being inveigled into a situation in which they find themselves becoming partisan agents of wrongdoers in the pursuit of very selfish and anti-people vendettae.
“Although the Court of Appeal verdict does not restore the former lawmakers to their lost seats, it has been exposed to ridicule particularly by the Wike group who are desperate to hold on to anything from the Court to assert themselves. Such situation could cause crisis and the Court would have considered the fragility of the political atmosphere in the state to be circumspect in their handling of sensitive situations such as this.
“Martins Amaewhule and his co-travellers are now hinging on the judgement of the Appeal court wrongly interpreted to them to assume that they have returned from their self-inflicted political relegation, so much so that they could muscle courage to go the extend of purptedly sitting to conduct legislative business when they have no such powers”, he stated.
Eze reminded those who seem lost in the euphoria of the interpretation of the Court of Appeal judgement that the question of whether or not the 27 former lawmakers have not lost their seat by virtue of their defection, is still pending before the courts and until the question is determined in their favour they remain former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and therefore lack the legitimacy to carry-on any legislative function for the state.
He recalled, “Rivers State has been a theatre of war since Gov. Fubara resolved to severe his predecessor – Nyesom Wike, from the administration of the state over the distractions and huge liability his interferences with governance, and more particularly the finances of the state had created for his government which is still in its prime.
“Angered by Gov. Fubara’s no-nonsense posture, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike ordered his 27 puppets at the Rivers State House of Assembly to prepare to commence impeachment proceedings against the Governor, but unfortunately, their defection stripped them of the legitimacy to embark on any valid legislative business, triggering a conflagration of legal fireworks and a gamut of judicial interpretations.
“One of such instances is the recent judgement of the Court of Appeal where the Court on Thursday, October 10, 2024 held that Gov. Fubara re-presents the 2024 appropriation bill to the Amaewhule led Assembly. This appeal arose from the judgement of a Federal High Court which was given after Gov. Fubara through his Lawyers, on the orders of President Tinubu, withdrew all processes filed in defence of the suit brought by Martins Amaewhule. Tinubu’s directive was contained in a resolution reached after dialoguing with waring parties in the Rivers political impasse. In other words, the judgement of the Court below which was upheld by the appellate court on Thursday October 10 was an usufruct of Wike’s impudent bluffing of President Tinubu’s directive.
“Awed by the floodgate of conflicting constructions arising from the judgement, I advise the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and his gang of stranded politicians to adopt the simple connotation which the verdict of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/133/CS/2023, conveys, in their interpretation of the said judge”.
