26/10/2024
RIVERS ASSEMBLY TUSSLE: GOV. FUBARA PERFECTS PLANS TO STAGE PROTEST
There is a growing concern within the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara that the series of losses recorded in the ongoing litigation are clear signs that the government is gradually coming to an end.
Rivers Watch reliably gathered that the governor's camp are preparing to stage multiple protests to cry wolf. They have been warned by their lawyers that they have bad cases at different levels of the court, and they cannot win the final battle.
We have it on good authority that the first thing they plan to do to water the ground for the protest is to launch a massive campaign of calumny against the judiciary. This we learned is aimed at justifying the planned protest.
Governor Fubara and some key members of his kitchen cabinet allegedly met with some media executives and publishers at the government house, Port Harcourt recently to perfect the plan to paint it like the judiciary is against the governor and his administration.
Over $500,000 has been earmarked for that purpose. Some selected media houses and public affairs analysts have been commissioned to carry out the attack on the judiciary.
We were also informed that there will be a lot of newspaper publications from pseudo groups condemning the judiciary as part of the multidimensional campaign.
Every judge handling any case involving the political crisis in Rivers State has been penciled down as a target. Even the Chief Justice of Nigeria and justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal will not be spared in the smear campaign.
In the coming weeks, all these will unfold to herald their protest all in a bid to whip up sentiments to gain public sympathy, we gathered.
Recall that on October 30, 2023, Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule removed Edison Ehie as Leader of the House, suspended him and three others following the burning of the hallowed chamber of the assembly.
Moments later, Edison Ehie declared himself the Speaker. Governor Fubara went on to present the 2024 appropriation bill to him and three other suspended lawmakers.
An action that Justice Omotoso of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja nullified in its entirety, and declared that Mr. Ehie was never elected speaker of the house, in his ruling in January 2024.
Instead of obeying the ruling, Governor Fubara chose to appoint Oko Jumbo as speaker with two others as members of the assembly.
On two separate occasions, the Court of Appeal has ruled that Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule is the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. One was the squashing of the ex parte order granted by Justice Wali of the Rivers State High Court that Oko Jumbo relied on, for lacking jurisdiction, the other was the affirming of the judgment of Justice Omotoso of the Federal High Court.
