Ignore Ultimatum Issued By Pro-Wike Lawmakers On Budget, HURIWA Tells Fubara

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to ignore any purported ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.

HURIWA added that the sitting by the pro-Wike lawmakers, which was conducted from residential quarters, is unknown to the law.

The pro-Wike Rivers State House of Assembly had on Monday wrote to Governor Fubara, directing him to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.

Reacting to the 48-hour ultimatum by the Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly to Governor Fubara to present the 2025 appropriation bill, HURIWA said that any House of Assembly sitting held from residential quarters was unknown to law, hence illegal, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.

HURIWA, in a statement by its leader, Comrade Emma Onwubiko, the human rights writers said every legislative House is bound by law to conduct its business – plenary within the chambers and it was curious that the faction whose status as lawmakers is a subject of litigation gather somewhere outside the State Assembly Chambers purportedly to issue an order to the governor.

They described the development as
unacceptable, illegal and desecration of the institution of legislature; the Constitution and democratic setting, stressing that in saner climes, security operatives would have gone after Amaewhule and his conspirator for the crime they have committed.

HURIWA said: “Another attempt to murder democracy and institution of legislature took place in Rivers State to our consternation and of many Nigerians as well as the international community interested in advancement of democratic ideals.

“This was as the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly sat in a residential quarters to purportedly conducted the business of the state legislature, the practice which is alien to the law and governance procedure anywhere in the road.

“At the end of that dramma, these persons who ceased to be members of the Assembly almost two years ago summoned the effrontery to issue a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Fubara to present the 2025 appropriation bill. This is indeed bizarre and a such condemnable!

“We therefore urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to ignore any purported ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly. It was first an illegal gathering which warrant the arrest of the participants by security operatives.”