Victor Ezeja
AdminThe Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has written an open letter to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, warning him against implementing the eight-point resolutions reached at a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in the presidential villa to resolve the political crisis in the state.
The Rivers elders numbering 20, in their letter, described the resolution as “a death sentence,” insisting that it was lopsided in favour of Fubara’s estranged political godfather and ex-governor, Nyesom Wike.
Prime Business Africa recalls that Fubara had in his Christmas broadcast to people of the State reiterated his commitment to the implementation of the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu to halt the protracted political crisis in Rivers.
The eight-point resolutions were signed in Aso Villa, Abuja by the governor, his predecessor now Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who are leaders of the two camps locked in the war of attrition.
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The peace deal was witnessed by former Governor Peter Odili, and National Security Adviser (NSA), Chairman of Rivers PDP Aaron Chukwuemeka, and All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, who also signed the agreement.
The resolutions have been trailed by protests by some Rivers elders, who have since been faulting the terms of the agreement. However, Fubara insisted in his Christmas broadcast that the peace accord “is not a death sentence, ” describing it as an opportunity to achieve stability in the state.
Elders of the state have now strongly disagreed with the Governor in two separate open letters dated 24th of December, 2023, and addressed to President Tinubu and Fubara respectively and read to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The statesmen stated that the composition and attendance at the peace meeting in the presidential villa showed a lack of balance between the two warring factions. They pointed out that “the faction recognized by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Elders of Rivers State, traditional rulers, women and youth leadership, were not represented at the meeting.”
The elders insisted that there was no peace in the presidential agreement, citing the directive that Governor Fubara should reverse all his resolutions against the 27 legislators, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and also recall all the commissioners, who resigned from his cabinet.
The forum, led by former Rivers State governor, Rufus Ada-George maintained that the presidential resolution on the political crisis in Rivers State was lopsided and not implementable because it was against the rule of law.
The elders, therefore, said: “Giving a directive for the reinstatement of commissioners who willfully resigned, and the 27 former legislators, who in all clear conscience and by legal implication jumped boat and got themselves dismissed from the affairs of the Assembly, should be reinstated and remunerated, smacks of a sense of political irresponsibility, lack of sensitivity to the laws of the land and due process.”
The group said Tinubu lacks the powers to overrule the ruling of a Court of Competent Jurisdiction when he is a product of the court. They further insisted that the seats of the defector-members of the state House of Assembly “have been declared vacant by the Speaker, known to law, Rt Hon Ehie Edison, through an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt division.”
“For us, as custodians of the Rivers people’s conscience and morality, we find the directive resolution document lopsided and skewed in favour of the interest of your current minister, Nyesom Wike, to the detriment of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the governance of the state and the interest of the generality of the good people of Rivers State,” they wrote.
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The open letters were signed by Chief George, Dr Gabriel Toby, Ibim Princewill, Rear Adm. P. Fingesi (retd.), Emeritus Prof. Dagogo Fubara, HRH Iraron, Ede Obolo, Anabs Sara-Igbe, Senator Bennett Birabi, Ms Annkio Briggs, Captain Nwankwo, Prof. A.W. Obianime, Prof. E. T. Bristol, High Chief Marcus Atata, Senator Wilson Ake, Dr Silva Opusunju, Sen Andrew Uchendu, Kalada Iruenabere, Atamuno Atamuno, Prof. N. O. Nyenke, and Godwin Abbey.
“Mr. Governor, Sir, you stated categorically that you are a principal participant in the entire saga and the Presidential Peace Proclamation is not as bad as being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it.
“That proclamation is actually a death sentence as it breaches all legal and constitutional rights you swore to uphold. Mr. Governor, you also stated in your broadcast that the document offers a way and means of peace: Peace at what cost?” the elders queried.
“Does the President have the powers to overrule the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction when he is a product of the court himself?
“Central to this, Mr President, is the sacred doctrine and practice of the separation of powers. May we inform Mr President that the seats of the cross-carpeting members have been declared vacant by the Speaker, known to the law, Rt Hon Ehie Edison, through an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court Port Harcourt division.
“We cannot but imagine how providing accommodation and meeting venue for legislative business becomes the duty of members of the House of Assembly who you directed to seat wherever they choose and not by the Executive arm as in the case of the National Assembly Complex were Legislative Quarters are provided and maintained by the Executive arm.
“Given the foregoing, it is evident that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State, was coerced into submitting to your premeditated action plan even when it is well known that Mr President does not possess such powers to give directives to a democratically elected governor or impose his will on the state government and the good people of Rivers State.
“As far as we are concerned, that meeting did not happen, and those directives are not implementable because to do so will be acting against the constitution and the rule of law.”
The elders, however, lauded Fubara for his humility as shown in his Christmas Day speech to the people of the state.”
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