RIVERS ASSEMBLY DECRIES GOVERNOR FUBARA’S AUTOCRATIC POSTURE, RESOLVES TO ENSURE THE RELEASE OF WITHHELD COUNCILS’ FUNDS

RIVERS ASSEMBLY DECRIES GOVERNOR FUBARA’S AUTOCRATIC POSTURE, RESOLVES TO ENSURE THE RELEASE OF WITHHELD COUNCILS’ FUNDS

The Rivers State House of Assembly at its 177th Legislative Sitting, Friday, has decried the autocratic posture of Governor Siminialayi Fubara in the governance of the State.

Contributing on a statement by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, which hinged on Governor Fubara’s ploy to demolish the recently built Assembly Quarters. Members catalogued the tyrannical actions of the Governor, beginning with the burning of the hallowed Chamber of the Assembly, demolition of the Assembly Complex, attack on the official residence of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, withholding of Local Government Councils Fund, withholding of Assembly Service Commission Fund and the latest ploy to demolish the Assembly Quarters.

Members described these actions of the Governor as despotic and called on all well meaning people of Rivers State and the president of the country to call the Governor to order.

Commenting on the Leader’s statement, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, described the invasion of the Assembly by Governor Fubara as vexatious, adding that the Governor has conducted himself in a maniacal and dictatorial manner that makes people to ponder if the Governor actually appreciates the import of the Independence of the three arms of government, as enshrined in the Constitution.

Rt. Hon. Amaewhule charged Members to stand firm so that democracy will survive in the State; and to resist ethnic division in whatever guise.
The House thereafter resolved to write to the British High Commission, the American Embassy, the European Union and the United Nations, intimating them of the mephistophelian and tyrannical disposition of Governor Siminialayi Fubara towards the Rivers State House of Assembly.

In another development, members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria(ALGON), Rivers State branch, led by the Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, Hon Allwell Nwunwor, who appeared before the House on the invitation of the House Committee on Local Government, narrated the plight of the Local Chairmen, wherein their monthly allocations have been withheld by the Governor in breach of Section 162(7) and (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 as altered.

The Council Chairmen hinted that this unlawful seizure of Councils’ fund has resulted in an increase in crime and criminality in the various LGAs because they are bereft of needed funds to tackle serious security matters.
The Chairmen then prayed the House to come to the aid of the Councils as administration at the third tier of Government has been strangulated on the directives of the Governor.

Remarking on the Complaints of the Council Chairmen, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule stated that by the provisions of Section 7 of the Constitution of Nigeria, and the Rivers State Local Government Law, 2024, the Governor has no direct control over the day to day administration of the Local Government Councils and concluded that the Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s action are inimical to all known democratic symbols and ethos.

The Speaker added that Governor Fubara has no respect for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all that he represents, given his anti- democratic comments and allusions.

The House thereafter resolved to take all necessary steps to ensure that the seized funds are released, including writing to the banks not to have any financial dealings with anybody on behalf of the Local Government Councils without the authorization of the Council Chairmen.