Tension In Rivers As Pro-Wike Lawmakers, Fubara-Backed Faction Clash Over Spending Rivers Money
The power struggle between Victor Oko-Jumbo’s faction and the 27 pro-Nyesom Wike lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule in the Rivers State House of Assembly intensified yesterday.
The Oko-Jumbo-led faction, consisting of three members, issued a counter-resolution against the previous directive from the 27 lawmakers, which barred Governor Siminalayi Fubara from spending money from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.
During their plenary session, the three legislators declared that the Amaewhule-led faction lacked the authority to prevent the governor from accessing the funds.
Speaker Amaewhule had sent a letter to the governor on Monday, informing him of the resolutions passed by the 27 lawmakers. In response, the three-member faction sent a letter to Governor Fubara urging him to disregard the directives, labeling the 27 lawmakers as former members of the House.
Copies of this letter were also sent to key officials, including the deputy governor, Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service, Accountant-General, Auditor-General, Central Bank Governor, Chairman of Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Accountant-General of the Federation, Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank PLC, and Managing Director of the Access Bank Group.
The Court of Appeal had previously set aside a state High Court order that removed Amaewhule and 24 others from their positions, citing a lack of jurisdiction. Despite this, Oko-Jumbo and his colleagues insist that the 27 lawmakers are no longer valid members of the House due to their alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Oko-Jumbo, who signed the counter letter, argued that Amaewhule and the others had no legal or moral right to prevent the governor from withdrawing funds from the consolidated account. He criticized the resolution as an inappropriate measure that could disrupt government operations pending the presentation of the 2024 Appropriation Bill.
He further explained that there was no justification for instructing ministries and other governmental bodies to halt spending taxpayers’ money while awaiting the budget’s passage.
Oko-Jumbo asserted that Amaewhule and his colleagues were not qualified to convene sessions or issue orders, as their seats had been declared vacant following their defection.
He stated, “On December 11, 2023, at the 87th Legislative sitting of the House, former Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 24 former members defected from the PDP to the APC. By virtue of Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which are self-executing, and following their defection, on December 13, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, then the duly recognized Speaker, declared their seats vacant pursuant to a court order and the constitutional provisions.”
He concluded that the recognized 10th Rivers State House of Assembly is now led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, and the state government has stopped paying any form of salaries, allowances, or statutory remuneration to the former members.
