Rivers State House Of Assembly Members Don't Exist— Governor Fubara Declares
Governor Similaya Fubara of Rivers State has taken a swipe at the Martin Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly, saying that the lawmakers do not exist anymore in the eyes of the law.
“Let me say it here, those groups of men who claim that they are assembly members, they do not exist. I want it to be on the record,” Fubara stated.
The governor made this known when Bayelsa State delegation of political and traditional leaders, led by former Governor of the State, Senator Seriake Dickson, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Fubara and 26 members of the assembly loyal to former governor, Nyesom Wike, have been at loggerheads after the move to impeach the governor was botched.
The Nigerian Voice reports that members of the State House of Assembly have vetoed the governor to pass some legislative bills without his assent.
While speaking, the governor told the delegation that he has been showing restraint since the political crisis escalated in the state.
He further stated that despite wielding state powers that he can deploy to achieve his aim, he has continued to act as the big brother in the face of intimidation and unwarranted attacks.
“So, I want you to see the sacrifice I have made to allow peace to be in our state. I can say here, with all amount of boldness, I have never called any policeman anywhere to go and harass anybody.
“I have never gone anywhere to ask anybody to do anything against anybody. But what happens to the people that are supporting me? They are being harassed, they are being arrested and detained.
“There is no week that somebody doesn’t come here with one letter of invitation for trump-up charges and all those things,” he said.
The governor added, “I am saying all these because of what my senior said here. I don’t think the other party has shown any restraint. I am the one who has shown restraint in the face of this crisis.
“I am the one that is badly hit, even when I have all the government instruments to shake up the table. But, why will I do it? I believe that peace is the best relationship to cultivate.”
He revealed that he had always been present at any meeting that was called to resolve the crisis in the state but after each meeting, he was met with a new dimension of the crisis from the opposing side.
He, however, vowed to continue to be peaceful, acknowledging that power is transient.
“We might have our division, but I believe that one day, we could also come together, but it has gotten to a time when I have to make a statement that they are not existing. Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognize them, they are nowhere. I want you to see the sacrifice I have made in allowing peace to reign in our state,” he added.