Multiple sources from the Presidency have told The PUNCH that political leaders from the South-South, especially governors from the region, are making efforts to reconcile warring parties, insisting the emergency rule is a stop-gap measure to allow for reconciliation.
President Bola Tinubu had on March 18 declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the breakdown of governance as a result of the war of attrition between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state’s lawmakers, as well as attacks on oil facilities in the state.
The President relied on Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to back his action.
However, stakeholder insisted that the action was unnecessary and could steer the country towards authoritarian rule.
In defence, multiple sources in the Presidency, who spoke on the issue on Sunday, said the idea of the emergency rule was to provide both parties with a much-needed period of respite, allowing them the time to de-escalate tensions and engage in meaningful discussions to resolve their differences.
The sources further pointed out that key figures, including members of the Senate and governors from the South-South region, were actively working towards fostering reconciliation between the parties, with the ultimate goal of ending all grievances.
The officials also explained that a meditating panel was likely to be instituted, as requested by the National Assembly.
“These (mediating panels) are suggestions on the table,” one of the sources told The PUNCH. “Customarily, the idea of the emergency rule is to give the parties time to cool down and sit down to solve their problems. That is the essence.
“So what the senate and the south governors are offering is to reconcile the parties so that they can stop all these fighting and quarrelling.”
Another source added, “Even the man there now, the sole administrator, part of his role is to reconcile the parties in conflict. That is part of his role, to make sure that the place is stabilised to reconcile them so they can work together for the peace and progress of Rivers.
“So, the President doesn’t need to get involved. The structures are there to take care of the issues.”
Reps committee
The House of Representatives will soon make a public pronouncement on the constitution of a committee to run the affairs of the Rivers State House of Assembly, newsmen has learnt.
The Deputy Spokesman of the Green Chamber, Philip Agbese, disclosed this in a telephone interview with The PUNCH in Abuja on Sunday.
Last week, both chambers of the National Assembly approved and ratified the emergency rule proclamation after considering a letter of request for approval from the Presidency.
Before the ratification of the emergency rule, the House frowned at Tinubu’s declaration that the administrator would report to the Federal Executive Council, pointing out that Section 305 of the Constitution he relied upon to suspend Fubara and the Rivers Assembly could not be read in isolation of Section 11 of the Constitution.
Section 11(4) of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to take over the legislative duties of a State Assembly where the latter cannot function as is the case with the Rivers Assembly today.
The Section reads, “At any time when any House of Assembly of a State is unable to perform its functions because of the situation prevailing in that State, the National Assembly may make such law for the peace, order and good government of that State with respect to matters on which a House of Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be necessary or expedient until such time as the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions.
“Any such laws enacted by the National Assembly pursuant to this section shall have effect as if they were laws enacted by the House of Assembly of the State.”
Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH on Sunday, Agbese reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to usher in peace in Rivers State by getting the warring parties to sheathe their swords and work together.
He said, “The Speaker and House leadership are already addressing this issue and a public announcement will be made soon regarding the committee to be set up by the parliament.
“At the moment, the House is more concerned about restoring peace in Rivers State and bringing the various groups together. This is a novel situation that requires further consultations within and outside the parliament,” he said.
Wike’s aide
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said the minister was not opposed to discussions geared towards peace in Rivers state, noting that the suspended governor should have implemented the judgment of the Supreme Court immediately it was passed.
Wike played a major role in Fubara’s emergence as Rivers governor two years ago but the pair fell apart shortly after, with some political analysts blaming the minister for the chaotic situation in the oil-rich state.
“The minister is not averse to sitting down with people and discussing and talking, he’s not. It is the duty of the National Assembly to also seek peace, to mediate in issues. If the Presidency also wants to do that, if they want to mediate, like the President did once; they called him a meddlesome interloper, they said he had no right to intervene, so if he still believes that he can still intervene, no problem, so be it.”, he said.
Addressing calls for the minister’s suspension from the President’s cabinet over the crisis in Rivers State, Olayinka said, “People can always talk, whether what they are saying is sensible or not is another issue.
“Was it Wike that went to the House of Assembly to set it on fire? Was it Wike that demolished the House of Assembly? And actually the Supreme Court alluded to the fact that the governor demolished the House of Assembly so as to prevent himself from being impeached.
“Was it Wike that said publicly that ‘youths don’t be perturbed, when it is time, I will give you the directive?’ And when he gave them the directive, maybe they started destroying the pipelines. Was it Wike that did that? Was it Wike that was using three members of the House of Assembly illegally to pass budgets? That’s why I said people can always talk; it’s their right to talk. Whether they are making sense or not, is a different matter.”
In a dramatic twist, suspended Rivers State Governor Fubara made his first public appearance on Sunday after Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration.
After Fubara’s exit from Government House, his whereabouts became a source of worry as some stakeholders, including the Rivers Elders and Leaders, raised the alarm, saying they had neither seen nor heard from the Governor.
It was also speculated he was in Bayelsa to spend time with his counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, before he was seen on Sunday worshipping at the Salvation Miniseries, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Clad in an all-white attire, Fubara, who was in company with his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, and other government officials, exchanged pleasantries with some of the church members, who ushered him into the front row of the congregation.
Punch
