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By Godwin Chukwumaechi
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged “subterranean moves” by the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and some judges in the state to procure, on behalf of the governor, some interim orders against the State House of Assembly.
Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the APC, Chief Tony Okocha, raised the alarm Thursday morning saying that he had it on good authority that plans for the orders were already concluded, noting that before next Monday the implementation of the plans would commence.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on political developments in Rivers State, the APC Caretaker Committee chairman explained the reasons behind the moves to secure the interim orders, warning that the party would not only petition against the move to the National Judicial Council (NJC), but would also stoutly resist it to the extent of organising civil disobedience against the governor.
“He (Gov. Fubara) wants to procure interim orders, restraining or stopping the implementation of the laws which he was vetoed over. He wants to procure an order to announce as illegal, the Rivers State House of Assembly as constituted and as led by Martins Amaewhule.
“The governor is in the business, as we speak and I speak with all authority. Because the walls have ears, because as a politician in this state used to say that he lives in somebody’s kitchen. So we live in their kitchen, we live in their sitting room, we live in their bedroom.So these are the plans that are on. We may get this confirmed before Monday”, Okocha asserted.
He alleged that the governor was taking the steps “so that he will now leverage on that order to go ahead to appoint caretaker committees at the local government against the warning of the man he said he respects, the President.
“But let’s put it clearly here that we will stoutly, vehemently oppose some negative subterranean moves by the man who ought to protect the dignity and integrity of the state called Rivers State. I have said that Rivers State cannot be turned to a pariah because of the cluelessness of one person. Rivers State is a state to be reckoned with in the comity of nations, highly respected and regarded.
“But see how dangerously we are turning because we have a governor that does not understand his left from his right.
“So we put this clearly to Nigerians and to Rivers people that we will stoutly resist that. The worst gift, according to Frank Fanon to an intransigent government is civil disobedience. If the government of Siminalayi Fubara tends towards transience, then he will meet with civil disobedience”.
He asserted further that the plans were fully hatched, waiting implementation.
He further emphasized; “To procure interim orders that will stop the Assembly from sitting and call them illegitimate, that will stop the implementation of the laws that the Assembly had already passed to allow him the opportunity to continue in his illegality such as appointing caretaker committees at the local government level.
“That these moves that are on, I on behalf of the APC will raise a well-worded letter to the NJC and that I shall name the judges that they have contacted, all of them, I know. I will write a petition to NJC.
“We will resist it because the Assembly members are members of my party and that it is an affront on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who is the leader of my political party.
“That because we know it is anti- people and as the main opposition party in the state representing the interest of the larger mass of the state, that we will stoutly oppose it”.
But when contacted for the government’s position on the issue, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Werisenbo Joe Johnson described Okocha’s assertion as baseless.
He said the opposition was panicking because they know “their fall is near.”
“They are panicked because they know their fall is near. Rivers people spoke yesterday through the Nigeria Union of Local Govt Employees {NULGE} and that organic love expressed, threw the camp of the factional acting party chairman of APC into this feverish situation.
“We will surprise them according to His Excellency, Gov Fubara”, the commissioner stated.
