Rivers crisis: Stakeholders reject Abuja peace accord

They asked  the Inspector-General of Police to probe an allegation that some security officers had been hired to unleash mayhem in the state.

They said: “May we announce to the Executive Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, that Rivers State people massively voted him into office and therefore cannot allow him to bring the people into disrepute by signing such agreement that is akin to selling our collective hegemony to one individual.”

They argued that the seats of the 25 lawmakers, who defected to the APC would remain vacant adding that the 2024 budget had already been passed and could only be altered by a judgement of the judiciary.

Among those, who signed  the position  document of the protesters were leaders of the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Greater Wakiriki Movement (GWM), National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Rivers Youths Federation (RYF), Ijaw Young Professional Association (IYPA), ANDONI Youths Federation (AYF), Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), Niger Delta Activist Forum (NDAF), United Community Development Committee (UDCD) among others.

Some of the leaders, whose signatures appeared on the document are Chijioke Inuwo, Levi Sam Okuru, Tamuno Kpokpo, Harrison Nwosu, Fubara Samuel, Inwoni Urang, Peter Ohochukwu and  Chief Mike Amakiri.

Highlights of the Abuja deal are:

·  All matters in courts by Fubara and his team shall be withdrawn immediately

·  All impeachment proceedings should be dropped immediately

·  The House as led by Martin Amaewhule shall be recognised alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP ·  The remunerations and benefits of all members must be reinstated immediately and the Governor of Rivers State shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the  Assembly

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·  The Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference

·  Fubara shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted  House

·  The names of all commissioners who resigned should be resubmitted to the House for approval

·  There should not be a caretaker committee for the LGAs.

Other signatories to the deal were Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Speaker Amaewhule, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka and All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee Chairman Chief Tony Okocha.

Former Governor of the State,Sir Peter Odili was present at the talks.

Fubara,on his return to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, had said he was prepared to pay any price for peace to reign.

“There is no price that will be too big to pay to ensure that peace prevails,” he said at the 3rd Convocation and 6th Founders Day ceremonies of the PAMO University of Medical Sciences in Iriebe, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Court urged to compel INEC to conduct election to fill seats of defecting 27 Rivers lawmakers

 Six individuals claiming to be members of a group – Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council (RSELC) –  have faulted the agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu among the warring parties in the political crisis in Rivers State.

They have therefore approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to among others, compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to promptly conduct a fresh election to fill the seats of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The six plaintiffs are also praying the court to restrain the President, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Rivers State Governor from further interfering in the affairs of the State Assembly.

The six plaintiffs in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1718/2023 are Hon. Victor Okon Jumbo, Senator Bennett Biryani, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Rear Admiral O. Pp. Fingesi, Ann Kio Briggs and Emmanuel Deinma.

Listed as defendants are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rivers State House of Assembly, its Speaker and the Chairman, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The suit was filed for the plaintiff by a group of lawyers led by Olukayode Ajulo (SAN).

In a supporting affidavit, Deinma stated that “it is common knowledge that sometime in the month of November, 2023, 27 members of the Rivers Stare House of Assembly (out of the total 32 members) without any justification or lawful excuse whatsoever, decided to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), being the platform under which they were elected as members of the  Rivers State House of Assembly, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Rivers crisis: Stakeholders reject Abuja peace accord