Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Rivers State House of Assembly has rescinded its choice to declare the seats of three pro-Governor Siminalayi Fubara lawmakers vacant.
The improvement signaled renewed drive in reconciliation efforts between the governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The choice, taken yesterday on the 68th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly, adopted appeals by Hon. Timothy Oruibienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo of Bonny Constituency; and Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari of Ahoada West Constituency.
The lawmakers, in separate letters learn by the Speaker, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, apologised to the House for failing to renew legislative duties after their suspension was lifted in December 2023, explaining that they’d not obtained official correspondence informing them of the choice.
After deliberations, members voted in favour of the appeals, reversing the House’s earlier decision and paving the best way for the affected lawmakers to rejoin their colleagues in representing their constituencies.
Addressing the House, Amaewhule mentioned investigations urged that the lawmakers won’t have obtained the correspondence notifying them of the lifting of their suspension.
He harassed that the choice ought to be guided by justice moderately than sentiment, declaring that “the law does not feast on emotion.”
According to the Speaker, the overriding consideration was the necessity to make sure that justice prevailed, whatever the circumstances surrounding the lawmakers’ extended absence.
The improvement got here amid renewed political engagements between Wike and Fubara, whose disagreement plunged Rivers State right into a protracted disaster that fractured the connection between the chief and legislative arms of presidency.
On Sunday, Wike led a delegation comprising Amaewhule, members of the state legislature, the 23 native authorities chairmen and different political stakeholders to satisfy with Fubara at his personal residence in Port Harcourt.
The assembly, which adopted an earlier engagement between the 2 camps, was understood to be a part of persevering with efforts to consolidate reconciliation and set up a extra steady political surroundings forward of the 2027 common election.
