By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Pan Niger Delta Elders’ Forum PANDEF on Wednesday March 12, flayed the Speaker Martins Amaewfule-led Rivers State House of Assembly for preventing Governor Siminalayi Fubara from accessing the Legislative Quarters.
This is even as Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister and immediate past Governor of the State insisted that Governor Fubara cannot gate-crash into the Assembly quarters after demolishing the Complex.
The Source reports that Governor Fubara was on Wednesday barred from entering the premises of the Assembly Quarters for the purpose of re-presenting the 2025 appropriation bill .
The re-presentation of the budget estimate to an enlarged Assembly led by Speaker Amaewfule was one of the pronouncements of the Supreme Court on February 28.
The Assembly had, on Monday March 3, given the Governor a-48 hour ultimatum to represent the budget.
Although the Governor could not honour the two-day dateline, his subsequent invitation to the Lawmakers to work out the modalities was rebuffed.
The Governor had written to the Lawmakers intimating them of his planned visit to the Assembly Quarters Wednesday March 12, for the budget representation.
Speaking on Wednesday, Chief Anabas Sara-Igbe, PANDEF Chieftain, described the decision of Speaker Amaewfule to lock out Governor Fubara as utterly provocative and totally unacceptable.
The PANDEF chieftain noted that the development is not an insult to Fubara as a person, but to the office of the Governor of Rivers State.
“The Governor was elected by millions of Rivers people. As the Chief Executive Officer of the State ,he has unhindered access to all the facilities within the State.
“Blocking him from entering the complex is a direct insult and embarrassment to the people of Rivers state.
“It is now very clear that the Governor is ready for peace .But these people are not ready for peace. You can see that by their action.
“How can you debar a sitting Governor from gaining access to a facility that belongs to the state ,as a chief executive officer.?
“But the Governor has continued to tow the path of peace despite the insult and provocation. I appeal that he implements all the decisions stipulated by the Supreme court in its judgment even though I don’t agree with some of the decisions”, the PANDEF stated.
He noted that Governor Fubara’s preference for peace was at the root of his earlier decision to withdraw the suit he filed in connection with the defection of the 27 pro-Wike Lawmakers when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so advised .
He decried the comment credited to Wike,the FCT Minister on Wednesday ,to the effect that the Governor can be impeached and “heaven will not fall”
Sara-Igbe however, cautioned against insulting the Ijaw Nation at this critical time, noting that it may amount to escalating the already charged atmosphere.
At an interactive session with the Media on Wednesday, Wike maintained there is no way the Governor will just come to the Assembly quarters without a formal invitation from the Lawmakers.
According to him, the Governor ought to have waited for the legislators to approve of his request before coming.
Governor Fubara informed that he had earlier written officially to the leadership of the legislative body to intimate them of his coming.
The Governor also stated that he made several unsuccessful attempts to speak with the Speaker after sending in a letter.
But Wike in his reaction accused the Governor of playing to the gallery.
” If you write a letter to the Assembly ,won’t. you wait for a response? He ( Governor) is playing to the gallery . He has carried television people to say he went to the House.
“You know it is wrong. Can the President now stand up and go to the National Assembly? Who does that?
“He brought the Assembly Complex down. Assembly now sits at their residence. If you are coming, they have children, they will say the Governor is coming today, so they have to prepare themselves.
“You cannot just go and open the gate and say: I am coming to present budget Nonsense Rubbish. Who is doing that ? Playing to the gallery. Nobody will hear that. Nothing will happen if Fubara is impeached” Wike retorted
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