As the crisis between Rivers state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and the immediate past governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Nyesom Wike escalated, leading to the emergence of a factional Speaker, there has been public support for the new development which they see as the way to save Fubara from the impeachment by the Amaewhule-led 25 APC lawmakers loyal to Wike.
Many of the people interviewed by Metronetworknews, urged Gov. Fubara to continue in the fight to free his government from the apron stringsof the minister.
They said that they are with Fubara as Wike has finished his tenure and should not in anyway elongate it.
They noted that their support for Fubara was not based on his performance or good quality but anchored on the fact that the former governor should give him a breathing space and the discretion to rule the state so that the public can assess him whether he is a good leader or not.
Some cautioned Gov. Fubara to be careful as he conducts the fight against Wike as Wike is a politician not easy to dismiss, adding that his detractors’ next option may be to push the president and the national assembly to declare a state of emergency.
They pointed out that developments occurring were in favour of Fubara as Wike’s plan to break PDP and establish a faction could not materialise because of the maturity of PDP leaders.
A statement by the Dwellers of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Africa (DCWCA), hailed the emergence of the new speaker.
The group in the statement which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Awolayeofori Harry, affirmed their unwavering support for him.
”We believe that under your legislative guidance, our state will continue to flourish, and the lives of thousands of residents along the coastal and waterfront will finally experience the dividends of democracy.
”Rt. Hon. Speaker, as you embark on this new chapter of governance, rest assured of our full cooperation and partnership in building a brighter future for all citizens of Rivers State”, they stated.
In the same vein, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Chief Eze Chukeuemeka Eze, said the election of the new speaker was a welcome development.
On whether the election of the speaker by few lawmakers was lawful, Eze said, ” It is very lawful because in absence of other rightful lawmakers the very few that are remaining thereby constitute the State Assembly.
Continuing he said; ‘This action is informed by the absence of 27 lawmakers who have by their defections have ceased to be lawmakers and in their absence the few Lawmakers remaining will have to elect their Speaker pending when INEC will conduct election to elect new representatives from the areas the former 27lawmakers came from. That is the Law and in line with the Supreme Court stand and our constitution.
On if the few lawmakers who were suspended before can elect a speaker , he said, ” an illegal lawmakers can’t suspend genuine lawmakers so the argument of suspension doesn’t come in in any form in this regard”.
It would be recalled that the member representing Bonny State Constituency, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, emerged as the new Speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly.
He was elected on Wednesday at 10am during plenary, in line with the Standing Order of the House.
In his acceptance speech, Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo, thanked the members for electing him as the new Speaker sequel to the resignation of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Oko-Jumbo said: “This is in line with Section 92(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (CFRN 1999) as Amended.
“You will agree with me that after the House last sat on the 13th of December, 2023, and adjourned sine dine, there has been an avalanche of legislative rascality perpetrated by the 25 former members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.
“These former members, being fully aware of the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the CFRN 1999, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Party (APC) on the 11th of December, 2023.
“Consequently, the Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie-led Assembly, on the 13th of December, 2023, wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring the seats of the 25 lawmakers vacant in line with Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the CFRN 1999.
“My distinguished colleagues, there are a plethora of cases pending in our courts further to the defection of the former lawmakers.”
Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo emphasised: “All laws, plenary sessions and actions taken by the illegal House members are hereby declared void and a nullity in the eyes of the law by virtue of the judgment of Lord Denning in the celebrated case of MacFoy v UAC (1961) 3 All ER 1169.
“Lord Denning held in that case that you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. Particularly, Lord Denning stated: ‘If an act is void, then it is in law a nullity. It is not only bad, but incurably bad. There is no need for an order of court to set it aside.
“It is automatically null and void without more ado, though it is sometimes more convenient to have the court declare it to be so’.”
Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo stated further, that every proceeding which was founded on the activities of the former lawmakers had become ‘bad and incurably bad’.
“You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there. It will collapse”, he added.
The new speaker called on the Executive arm, the Judiciary and the general public to disregard every law purportedly enacted by the illegal Assembly members because they all amount to nothing but an exercise in futility.
He said, “Furthermore, this House would want to most respectfully urge and call on His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, DSSRS, to desist forthwith from further dealings with the 25 former lawmakers, in whatever guise.
“Those members are merely floating and do not have any landing ground or anywhere to berth their ship since their defection to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th of December, 2023.
“This House is the legally and constitutionally recognised House of Assembly by virtue of the defection of the other members, and is ready to receive correspondences from and work with His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. Distinguished colleagues, let me thank you once again.
“I know I can count on your unalloyed and unwavering support as we work with His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in moving our dear Rivers State forward in promoting the progress and welfare of the State.”
Speaking to newsmen after the 10am sitting of the House, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, said he will stay true to his constitutional duties and work assiduously for the growth and development of Rivers people and the State.
“We will sit again, and communicate our proceedings to the public and make sure that we are doing what we ought to do to ensure there is transparency and clarity of leadership of the 10th Legislative Assembly.”
Also speaking, the newly elected Leader of the House, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari said: “As the chairman of the government business in the 10th Assembly, as you’ve heard our speaker say, we will work in line with set goals to achieve synergy with the Executive.
“But away from that, we want to further warn that if His Excellency, the Governor ever have any dealing with those former members, we, the original members of the 10th Assembly, who by the provisions of the Constitution, form the quorum to address legislative business of the day, will have no choice than to raise the gavel, which is to commence impeachment proceeedings against him.”
He, therefore, urged the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to cooperate and work in tandem with the legitimate members of the 10th Assembly to ensure the delivery of good governance and quality dividends of democracy to Rivers people, who have bestowed their trust and mandate on them at this time.
The new Speaker was led to the plenary with the original mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Sergeant-at-Arms, David Wariboko, who managed the last sitting of the Amaewhule-led Assembly in the same position.