3 hours ago
23
…Counters NASS’ caucus’ stance on Amaewhule, others
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Members of the Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives have declared their support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House of Assembly.
The lawmakers were reacting to the recent press conference by some Rivers State National Assembly members in sympathy with the Martin Amaewhule-led faction.
The House of Representatives caucus noted that at the press conference, the Rivers State National Assembly caucus claimed “to put a stop to the falsehood and misrepresentation of facts on the judgements of courts as it affects the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Governor of Rivers State.”
According to the caucus led by Rep. Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante
(Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Rep. Boma Goodhead (Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency), Rep. Boniface Emerengwa
(Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency), Rep. Anderson Allison Igbiks (Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency) and Rep. Manuchim Umezurike
(Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1), the intention of the former (NASS Caucus) was to mislead members of the public on the true situation in the House of Assembly crisis.
Leader of Reps caucus, Abiante, in his address, stated: “It thus becomes necessary on our part to set the records straight and put the public in proper perspective, because lies unrebutted soon overtakes the truth.
He maintained that in a plethora of court cases on Amaewhule and 26 others (whom he referred to as former lawmakers), the legal effect of court judgments is that, “as of 11th December, 2023 when Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule read out the letters of defection of himself and 26 others on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly, they lost their seats and automatically and mandatorily became former members of the House.
“Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 26 others had lost their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly following their voluntary defection/cross-carpeting which happened on the floor of the House of Assembly in the full glare of the public on 11th December 2023.
“It is worthy to note that neither the fact of their defection nor any issue relating to their defection nor on their status as former lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly was raised, submitted or discussed in the proceedings leading to the 22 January, 2024 judgement of Hon. Justice Omotosho.”
The lawmakers maintained that the denial of defection by Amaewhule and others was an afterthought and declared their support for the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House of Assembly.
They also defended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for upholding Nigerian Constitution and the Rule of Law in Rivers State, stressing that governor has never disrespected and will never disrespect the Court of law.
The House of Representatives caucus, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu, National Judicial Council, Chief Justice of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, all institutions in Nigeria, as well as Nigerians, to ignore “the deliberate misrepresentation of the facts and the effect of the judgement of Hon Justice Omotosho on the situation in Rivers State by Hon Amaewhule and co.
Responding, the factional Speaker, Oko-Jumbo, commended the group for declaring its support for the governor and House of Assembly.
He declared that the 10th Assembly under his watch would continue to support the Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led government in actualizing its vision and programmes for the state.
Oko-Jumbo said: “Our duty is to make laws for our people. And that is what we focus on. The government of Rivers State is focused to develop the state and people. The Executive Governor of Rivers State is focused on delivering his mandate to Rivers people.
“We, as the elected lawmakers, are also too focused on delivering every vision that we owe our people. And, today, by your visit, hope has been rekindled. We thank you for standing for Rivers people.”
English (US) ·