10th May, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The factional Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule has accused Governor Siminialayi Fubara of planning to demolish the recently built State legislative quarters, located along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
The Amaewhule-led lawmakers have also written a petition to the Director-General State Security Services for protection alleging that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has plans to Assembly Quarters where they and members of their families are residing.
In a letter he signed, Amaewhule further alleged that the planned demolition is a follow-up to the demolition of the Assembly complex on Moscow road Port Harcourt, and a ploy to cause chaos and frustrate them from carrying out their constitutional duties.
Amaewhule claimed that when the Governor Siminalayi Fubara visited the Assembly Quarters on Thursday, he came with thugs who scaled the fence and broke the gates.
According to the Amaewhule, Rivers people were stunned when the Governor Fubara stormed the House of Assembly quarters with another attempt to demolish the premises.
Also, in a press statement issued by Martin Wachukwu, his media aide, Amaewhule, further alleged that Nigerians are watching day by day as the Governor, who is supposed to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and extant laws of the State is now the chief breaker of the law.
Amaewhule said the House of Assembly quarters is one of the best in Nigeria and was built by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. The quarters was commissioned by the Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, now Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila last year.
The Speaker expressed disappointment in the Governor’s undue interference, stating that the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters was built for Members of the House of Assembly, not for the Executive arm.
He said the Governor’s actions are unbecoming of a sitting Governor who is supposed to uphold the sanctity of the Law.
“We are ashamed to have a Governor who has no respect for our Constitution, laws, and democracy. Indeed, our Governor is an assault to our democracy,” Amaewhule said.
The Speaker further revealed that the Governor mobilized thugs to his official residence and evaded the official residence of Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, jumping through the fence and breaking the back gate. He accused the Governor of wanting to demolish the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which was built with taxpayers’ money, without informing the Members.
Amaewhule stated that while other Governors are looking for ways to improve the well-being of their people, the Governor Fubara is busy looking for structures to demolish, adding that he has nothing to show but to demolish what other past Governors have built.
The Speaker affirmed that Members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly are not afraid and will continue to make laws for the good governance of the State, stressing that the Governor has no power over the legislature, as the House of Assembly is a creation of the Constitution.
However, in a swift reaction, Paul Ananaba a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has dismissed the claims that the Governor of a State not right to visit the House of Assembly Quarters or anywhere he wishes in the state.
He reminded Amaewhule that the Assembly Quarters is a Rivers State Government property for which the Governor under the Law is the chief custodian.
The legal luminary gave this explanation when he appeared on Channels Television. He said the issue is that of crisis of confidence and was sure that the governor has no plans to demolish the Quarters.
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