Fubara, Wike reconciliation: Rivers Assembly recalls 3 lawmakers

The Rivers State House of Assembly has rescinded its decision to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, vacant, following the peace deal brokered by the governor, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and the lawmakers.

Riding on the letters of appeal sent to the Speaker of the House, Martin Chike Amaewhule, the trio of Timothy Oruibienimigha, Victor Oko Jumbo, and Hon Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency, Bonny Constituency, and Ahoada West Constituency respectively, the House on Monday, at its 68th Legislative Sitting rescinded its earlier decision declaring the three seats vacant.

In their separate letters of appeal read by the Speaker at Plenary, the trio apologised to the House, claiming that they failed to resume sitting with their colleagues because there was no correspondence intimating them that their suspension of 30th October, 2023 was lifted on the 20th December, 2023, after the presidential intervention.

Debating on the acceptability or otherwise of the appeal, the members submitted in favour of the plea and urged the House to rescind the earlier decision.

Commenting on the letter, and deliberations of the members, the Speaker, emphasized that irrespective of the emotion-laden tenor of their letters of appeal, the point to note is that investigation has shown that they may not have received the correspondence as claimed; adding that the law does not feast on emotion, neither does the law see the rotund face of the rich nor the angular face of the poor, but sees only justice.

When the Speaker put the question on the premise of rescinding the earlier decision, the members voted in the affirmative, willing to see their colleagues join them to speak for their various constituencies.

In the wake of the political imbroglio that engulfed the State, four members of the House were suspended at the 84th Legislative Sitting and following the presidential parley of 18th December, 2023, the suspension was lifted on the 20th of December, 2023 at the 89th legislative sitting.

However, following the continued failure or refusal of the trio to attend and participate in legislative sittings and businesses, the House resolved to declare their seats vacant, and accordingly notified the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections to fill the vacant seats.