.As group calls on Tinubu, NASS to wade in
By Yahaya Umar
Amid the move by Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Mma Odu, concerned citizens under the auspices of South South Professional Women Association International, SSPWAI, has said that there is more than meets the eye as the lawmakers have their real reason the want Fubara and Odu out.
SSPWAI President, Dr. Constance Mbang, stated this yesterday while briefing journalists on behalf of members of the group in Nigeria and other parts of the world “on the political crisis in Rivers State.
According to her as a concerned group “We have watched with keen interest the unfolding drama and the recent attempt to impeach the Rivers State Governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Mma Odu and cannot continue to keep quiet”.
In this vein, she said that “We are now ready to speak out and let Nigerians and the whole world know the truth about what the Governor is passing through in the hands of the so-called godfather, the FCT Minister, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and his collaborators at the Rivers State House of Assembly, RSHA, led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewuhle”.
Besides, she said that “On the planned impeachment of the Rivers State Governor and his Deputy, we want to inform the whole world that the bottom -line is the refusal of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to collaborate with the RSHA to squander the resources of Rivers State. The Governor has rather chosen to use Rivers money judiciously for the welfare of the citizens of the state and the provision of basic infrastructures in the state and this the Assembly found as offensive”.
The SSPWAI president, alleged that when former Rivers Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) was in office during the period of emergency rule, “The State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker Amaewuhle cajoled Ibas to illegally release the sum of N350 million to each member of the RSHA under the name of “constituency project” and another N100 million to each of them. Ibas also bought brand new Prado Jeep for each of the assembly members. These are facts. The vehicles are being driven around the state by the law makers, who in actual fact are not making any law.
After emergency rule, the same lawmakers approached the Governor, Sir Fubara claiming they have spent N500 billion for constituency projects which they want captured in a new budget but the Governor refused on the premise that the current budget by Ibas that was approved by the National Assembly is still running (will run from June 2025 to June 2026), and that a supplementary budget would only be prepared if there is need for any new expenditure item. We all know that even the current Federal Government budget is that of last year and still running, she alleged.
“Unfortunately, the position of the Governor did not seat well with the lawmakers whose only ambition is to milk the state dry in the name of constituency projects. They don’t want to know whether Rivers people are eating or not, they don’t want to know if the people have basic health, education, road, water and other facilities or not.
Dear distinguished Editors, on behalf of our members in Nigeria and other parts of the world, I heartily welcome you all to this briefing session which is aimed at pouring out our hearts as women, mothers and indigenes of the South-South geo-political zone on the ugly incident currently going on in Rivers State which is a critical and very important state not just in the Niger Delta but also in the country given its abundant human and material resources and massive revenue contribution to the national economy
The South-South Professional Women Association International ,SSPWAI, is a non-political professional women association established on the 10th October, 2015 with the objective of bringing together and uniting the South-south women of various professions with the purpose of contributing ideas, skills and talents and even our resources to the development of the Niger Delta area. We have over 27,000 members spread across 26 countries including Nigeria, Africa, United states, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world with headquarters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. We engage in advocacy, mentorship, manpower development, girl-child education, lobbying, and women empowerment programmes.
Constance Mbang further said that information available to the organisation is that each member of the RSHA has allegedly “collected N500 million to impeach the governor and his deputy, but God will not allow that to happen”.
Commenting on efforts to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State, she said that Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, led by respected indigenes of the area set up a reconciliation committee headed by eminent lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) to wade into the matter but the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike asked the lawmakers not to attend or honour any invitation from the panel.
Tell me is that fair? Would such action make a room for peace in Rivers state?
Implications of the Impeachment of Governor Fubara and his Deputy
“First of all, we are happy with the gallantry displayed by the Rivers State Chief Judge, who rejected an order to set up an impeachment panel. The question is, why will the RSHA want to impeach the Governor and his Deputy at the same time?
“Assuming the governor did wrong, what then is the offense of the Deputy Governor? Why must they go together if not for a hidden agenda?
“The answer is simple: the Wike group led by the RSHA Speaker, Hon. Martins Amaewhule is positioning him (speaker) to take over as governor after the impeachment.
“Recall that the current Speaker Martins Amaewhule is an Ikwerre, the group that has ruled Rivers State for a long time before the emergence of Fubara from Opobo. Why will they not allow a riverine to enjoy his full terms of office like every other up land group had done?”
In view of what the SSPWAI described as ugly developments, it therefore called on all well-meaning Nigerians including President Bola Ahmed TINUBU, GCFR and the international community to wade into the political crisis in Rivers State and call the RSHA members to order.
Rivers State, the group pointed out is home to both Nigerians and a large international community with their families and business ventures especially international oil companies. These people need to be reassured of their safety. Anything that happens in the state ultimately affects the national economy and Nigeria’s international image and reputation.
“We also call on the National Assembly to immediately take over the legislative duties of the RSHA since they have proved incapable of carrying out their legislative functions in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, South South Professional Women Association International stated.
