Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to FCT minister Nyesom Wike have alleged that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is planning to demolish the Assembly quarters.
Politics Nigeria reports that Fubara paid an unscheduled visit to the assembly quarters located at Aba Road in Port-Harcourt on Thursday, May 9.
At a press briefing immediately after a visit by the governor, Speaker Martin Amaewhule accused Fubara of being in violation of a subsisting court order.
Conducting journalists around the premises, a visibly angry Amaewhule said the building is very sturdy and doesn’t require any renovation. He declared that the governor was not invited there by any of them.
The lawmakers, in a statement signed by Emeka Amadi, clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, said there was no change in leadership structure of the House as Martin Amaewhule, Dumle Maol, and Major Jack remain Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Majority Leader respectively.
The statement reads in full:
“The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to reports in the electronic and print media that there was a leadership change in the Rivers State House of Assembly today, the 8th day of May 2024. As the Clerk of the Rivers State House and one who administered the Oath of membership and office to all members and a custodian of all records of the House, I write to state the following:
“That there was no change in the leadership of the House today and Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS remains the Speaker of the House while Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol DSSRS and Hon. Major Jack DSSRS remains Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader respectively.
“That apart from the seat of Khana Constituency Il which was declared vacant because of death of the member who represented the constituency, no other seat has been declared vacant.
“That there is a subsisting judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction in Suit no FHC/ABI/CS/1613/2023 in which the Court among other orders “granted an ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Governor of Rivers State (11th Defendant) whether by himself or by his agents and or hirelings or in any manner howsoever from impeding or frustrating the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the 2nd Plaintiff as the Speaker of the said House in the performance of their functions including holding of meetings and the transacting of the business of the Rivers State House of Assembly
“That Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari and Hon. Adolphus Orubimie Timothy were suspended on the 30th of October 2023 pursuant to the Rules of the House and their suspension is yet to be liftedand they cannot lay claim to be officers of the House.
“That the House is still conducting legislative business in line with the Standing Orders of the House and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered.
“That the good people of Rivers State and the Nigerian Federation should discountenance any media report purporting any recent change in leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
