• PDP governors laud President, seek urgent end to political crisis
• Police arrest pro-Fubara youths over protest
• Lagos lawmakers condemn arson at Rivers Assembly, call for autonomy for state legislatures
Calm came the way of Rivers States yesterday as President Bola Tinubu waded into the political crisis and faceoff between the embattled governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his estranged godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Apparently to halt the crisis from festering, the President used the opportunity of Tuesday’s meeting of the Police Council, which both the governor and the FCT Minister attended as members, to end the feud between the two political allies.
The relationship between Fubara and Wike suffered a setback following attempts by a section of the state’s House of Assembly to impeach the governor on Monday.
Sources have laid the blame for the impeachment plot at the doorstep of Wike. The political atmosphere in Port Harcourt suddenly turned chaotic when the Assembly, split between the governor and his predecessor, made bold counter moves to checkmate each camp.
Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, disclosed the President’s intervention while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Police Council’s meeting, held at the State House, Abuja.
Despite their feud, Fubara and Wike had earlier exchanged pleasantries inside the Council Chambers before the meeting commenced.
Mohammed, who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) also disclosed that the opposition governors have resolved to work with the President because he has shown good faith by not interfering with gubernatorial cases brought before the courts.
“We had a closed session where a very serious national issue was discussed that has security implications. That is the problem emerging in Rivers. Mr President, in his usual leadership position, intervened and it would appear there will be peace; I that respect.
“On that topic, the PDP governors, which on their behalf I spoke, extolled the leadership qualities of the President, expressing appreciation that all the PDP governors, who had gone through the tribunals have emerged victorious. We know that is leadership.”
Before they went into a closed door, some of the governors, including Wike and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, were sighted as they engaged in an aside discussion while others engaged in exchange of banters.
In the ensuing development, Wike later proceeded to shake hands and briefly exchange pleasantries with Fubara after he had disengaged from the NSA.
It is the first time Fubara (decked in white kaftan) and his estranged godfather (also spotted in a white kaftan) are meeting face to face since the beginning of the reported spat between them.
Soon after the Police Council meeting ended, Fubara recorded his first attendance at the meeting of PDP-GF, where decisions were taken to facilitate a quick end to the political crisis in Rivers.
At the meeting, which was hosted by the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, it was disclosed in a communiqué that “the PDP governors were alarmed at the recent developments in Rivers and welcomed the intervention of Mr President to bring the crises to an end.”
The meeting urged all parties to the crises to sheath their sword and resort to peaceful means of resolution. The Forum further offered its platform for a quick and just containment of the issues.
The meeting vowed to reposition and strengthen PDP as a viable opposition political party ready and willing to play its role as the vanguard of the Nigerian people for democracy, good governance, and accountability.
On the national economy, the meeting urgently requested the patriotic intervention of the Federal Government to stabilise the Naira, control inflation, stem unemployment crises, and bring more succour to Nigerians.
Governors in attendance were: Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Fubara, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Forum; Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa; and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta.
Others are the deputy governor of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ossai; Ademola Adeleke of Osun; Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Kefas Agbu of Taraba and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.
Following the political development in Rivers, president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr Alaye Theophilus, has warned that the organisation would resist any peace deal reached in Abuja that is anti-Rivers people.
Theophilus, who made the position of the youth group known while addressing newsmen at the entrance of the Rivers State Government House yesterday, where teeming youths had gathered in a solidarity protest for the governor, said the youths are keeping tab with development in Abuja.
He said he was aware of ongoing talks initiated by President Tinubu but stressed that while it is in solidarity with the governor, it will go against Fubara if he accepts any peace deal that is anti-Rivers people.
According to him, the youths are receptive to a peaceful resolution to the political instability in the state. “Everything that is happening has a political undertone. And if there is a political means to resolve the matter that peace will be restored to the state, as a council, we support it because peace is golden.
“What we want is a level-playing ground, what we are saying is allow the governor to operate. If the peace accord that they went for in Abuja gives the governor a free hand to pilot the affairs of Rivers, we are okay with it.
“But if the peace accord is anti-Rivers people, we will stand against it. If it will further give the governor the power to deliver the dividends of democracy, we will be okay with it. That is our position,” he said.
However, some political gladiators in the last gubernatorial election in the state have condemned the ongoing unrest, saying the state cannot afford the wanton loss the crisis has caused already.
In their separate statements, the governorship candidates of Accord Party and Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the March polls, Dumo Lulu-Briggs and Magnus Abe, expressed concerns over the political instability that has heightened since the past 48 hours.
Lulu-Briggs, who expressed deep concern over the happenings said the ongoing rift is extremely disheartening. He added that the legislative chambers shouldn’t be a platform for destabilisation but a place to ensure that justice is pursued and constitutional principles are adhered to.
He said: “Political instability at this time when our people, like other Nigerians, are going through grueling economic situations will only worsen their lot.”
The oil mogul called on the leadership of the Rivers Assembly to put the interests of the state and their constituents uppermost during the trying times, maintaining that they should be guided by the pursuit of the common good.
On his part, Abe condemned the alleged direct shooting of live bullets and teargas at the governor, saying the Nigerian police need to have a deeper conversation with the governor, who is the current chief security officer and the only Rivers man that currently enjoys constitutional immunity.
He said: “As seen in trending videos in the media space, the direct gunshots and teargassing on the person of the Governor of Rivers was wrong. This is beyond politics, and I publicly condemn it.”
The Rivers State chapter chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Chijioke Ihunwo, alongside over 100 others have been arrested by operatives of the police state command over a protest.
It was learned that the youth chairman, at about 2:00p.m., having got information that some anti-Fubara lawmakers were having a meeting at the Assembly quarters along Aba Road, led a protest to allegedly disrupt the meeting, but on getting to the meeting, were forced to sit on the ground and eventually were arrested.
Ihunwo and others were subsequently detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Although the police have not reacted to the development, a video on social media showed where the irate youth stormed the factional Speaker, Martin Amaewhule’s lodge, trying to forcefully pull down the gate. This has raised tension as some youths are calling on the police to be professional and apolitical.
Weighing in on the development, the Lagos State House of Assembly has urged President Tinubu to call on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reopen the parliament so the lawmakers could perform their duties.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said the parliament must not be made a victim of political crisis among gladiators as witnessed in Edo, where the roof of the parliament was removed by the governor, and other states where such had happened in the past.
“The Constitution must be adhered to at all times. Since the crisis started in the office of the governor, then there is no reason to lock up the Assembly. Even if the lawmakers have issues, they should be allowed to resolve such among themselves without interference from the executive arm.
“The removal of the Speaker behind the door should not be tolerated because it is against the Constitution. While we understand that impeachments are democratic, the procedures must be followed whether for a Speaker or a governor.
“Where did they have the sitting where the Speaker was removed and at what time did the sitting hold? How many members voted against the sitting Speaker? The Rivers governor, in saving his neck, must not sacrifice the House of Assembly or turn the legislators against themselves,” he said.
Obasa called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Tajudeen Abbas of the House of Representatives, to urgently intervene to protect the Rivers Assembly and its members.
Members of the House condemned the burning of the Rivers State legislative chamber by yet to be identified persons. The members also condemned the alleged interference of the executive arm of government in the affairs of the state legislature saying that the constitution guarantees the independence of the legislature.
MEANWHILE, leaders of the Niger Delta region on Tuesday warned critics of the Wike-led administration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to put a stop to their opposition.
They stated that Wike has the full support of the entire Niger Delta people and other well-meaning Nigerians to continue his work in the FCT as directed by President Tinubu.
