The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a stern rebuke against what it terms “executive lawlessness” and an affront to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
In a press statement released from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, Esq., lambasted Governor Fubara’s recent declaration that the Rivers State House of Assembly is non-existent.
The APC rejected the assertion, asserting that such a declaration flies in the face of constitutional principles and democratic norms.
According to Morka, Governor Fubara’s actions, which include attempts to impose an illegal three-member House of Assembly and the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, constitute a grave violation of the rule of law and an assault on democratic institutions.
Part of the statement read: ”Governor Fubara continues to conduct the business of government unhinged, and in total contempt of the state legislature.
”The Governor expends the state’s resources without regard to appropriation and public procurement laws.
”The Governor has unlawfully withheld local governments funds as a punitive measure against perceived opponents, and only recently, directed that all heads and officials of the 23 Local Government Areas should ignore the summons of the State Assembly as he threatened to sack officials who flouted his directive.
”The power of the purse resides in the legislature. If, indeed, the House of Assembly does not exist, as Governor Fubara has declared, then the Governor must necessarily shut down the entire government of Rivers State, especially the office of the Governor, as he lacks the authority to expend public resources without valid appropriations by the legislature.
”Governor Fubara cannot abrogate the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He cannot be governor and be despot-in-chief of the Rivers state House of Assembly, at the same time. Attempting to impose an illegal 3-man House of Assembly is executive lawlessness in the extreme.
”Governor Fubara’s quest to repudiate the Constitution and govern in denial of the existence of the state legislature is, in and of itself, among other grounds, an impeachable offence.”
The APC called on Governor Fubara to adhere to the dictates of the Constitution and respect the rule of law.
The party asserted that the Constitution will always prevail over any attempts to subvert it and urged the people of Rivers State to demand accountability and adherence to democratic principles from their elected officials.
