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By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended political leaders and elders in the state, under the aegis of Elders and leaders of Rivers State, who converged across political party lines and paid a visit to the state Assembly Quarters off Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
The elders, comprising past and present members of the National Assembly, local government chairmen and opinion leaders on Sunday paid a visit to the quarters to assess the condition of the buildings.
During the visit they called on the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to jettison his plans to tamper with structures at the House of Assembly quarters, noting that they had assessed the quarters and found out that it was still in perfect order having been just commissioned less than 2 years ago.
Speaking to newsmen on the visit by the political leaders, the Caretaker Committee chairman of the APC, Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha commended them for the visit, which he described as a demonstration of the unity in the state and readiness of the people to defend democracy.
He vowed to protect the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who he said were currently members of the Rivers APC, as according to him, he was duty bound to protect them against the reign of tyranny by Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
Chief Okocha said; “You can see how Rivers leaders thronged out in their numbers, unbargained, unplanned, to visit the Assembly Quarters. It goes to show the world that Rivers State is one that is united. The Speaker has taken his stand to continue to carry out his legitimate functions, and has given us a synopsis of what transpired when Governor Siminialayi Fubara, in his Gestapo and commando style, came into the Assembly Quarters with thugs, and harassed the Assembly members”.
He added; “Leaders have spoken as leaders of the state. I want to narrow it down to the party (APC). 27 of the members of the State Assembly are our property, and we owe them a responsibility to do everything to protect them.
“At every twist and turn, Gov. Fubara, who is the chief lawbreaker of the state, will come out publicly, claiming to be supporting Mr. President, in a bid to continue to curry political patronage and capital. It is not true; it is a fluke!
They want to latch onto the back of the President to continue to engage in their illegality. They claim to have voted for President Tinubu in the last election, but the record shows that Gov. Fubara voted against Mr. President. The same Fubara is the one funding people to go to court to challenge the President’s authority”.
He frowned at the attempt by Governor Siminialayi Fubara to emasculate the Legislative Arm of Government, by proclaiming what he calls an “Executive Order”, in order to merge the State House of Assembly with the Government House, thereby fusing the legislative and the executive arms of government together.
The Rivers APC leader warned that the APC in Rivers State will resist such illegal action of the governor with the last drop of her blood.
Earlier, while receiving the visitors, factional Speaker of the Assembly Martin Amaewhule, said that there was a grand plot by the governor to bring down the structures the same way he ordered the demolition of House of Assembly Complex located along the Moscow Road to stop them from sitting.
He stated that the structures were in excellent condition, fully functional and were currently occupied by the lawmakers and their family members.
He condemned the way and manner the governor stormed the quarters aided by thugs and armed policemen alleging that Fubara broke the gate and allowed others to scale the fence.
Amaewhule said the lawmakers never invited the governor to come to the quarters adding that the estate remained the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Your visit is unusual visit. It shows that the good people of the state are concerned about what is happening. This facility is the facility of the Rivers State House of Assembly”, he told the elders.
The factional Speaker added; “We have also brought in experts, engineers and there is nothing wrong with these structures. They are fully in use and fully functional. All the experts confirmed to us that this building is one of the best in the entire West Africa.
“This complex was constructed by the former governor, Nyesom Wike and inaugurated in August 2022 by the current chief of staff to Mr. President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila. We are happy with the building and everything is working well.
