Rivers Political Crisis: Tinubu’s Truce, Illegal, Unacceptable, Says APC Chieftain

By Frank Oshanugor

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has taken a swipe at the just concluded peace meeting brokered presidentially between the Governor of Rivers State Simi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike, saying “the terms of settlement proffered by President Bola Tinubu over the political crisis in Rivers State is callous, draconian, demeaning and to say the least, embarrassing to the sensibilities of the lettered Rivers public.”

In a statement made available to the media, Eze said “President Tinubu acted to further entrap Similayi Fubara into the bondage which he has been fighting off to liberate the state and her people from, noting that the 8-point agreement is anti-democratic and self-serving, having failed to address the origin of the crisis which is the covert acts by the FCT Minister.

“Having carefully and critically read through the truce initiated by President Tinubu to address the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, I wish to highlight that the eight point agreement is but unconstitutional, illegal, unacceptable, undemocratic, judicial abuse and a ploy to cage governance in Rivers State and buy temporary relief for Minister Nyesom Wike. The agreement failed woefully to address the major issues that brought up this conflict .

“Further reasons for the Rivers crisis are the criminal, draconic and dictatorial interference of the FCT minister in the governance of the State and the continued dehumanization and disrespect of Sir Similayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State. The said agreement did not address these issues or at least, tame Wike’s excesses; and having failed in this regard and coupled with the order that the Ex-lawmakers who by their defection from PDP to APC have lost their seats, to continue to act as Lawmakers, against the relevant provisions of the constitution, is totally absurd, unacceptable, condemnable and is an attempt by President Tinubu to usurp the judiciary powers which he does not have.

Eze maintained that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must be respected because it is superior to any agreement signed under whatever circumstance.

He highlighted that “the following were parts of the funny agreement:- “that all court cases instituted by Fubara should
be withdrawn; Impeachment processes against the Governor dropped; Amaewhule-led leadership, 26 defected members of Assembly to decide where to sit henceforth and most ridiculous part of the pact is that the Governor should present 2024 appropriation bill before illegal legislative arm that has Ex-lawmakers and reincorporate former members of the state executive council who voluntarily resigned
from his cabinet and that salaries and benefits should be paid to illegal Lawmakers in the State. this is a total absurd and confusing.”

Eze further stated that contrary to report being circulated by Media Houses that Governor Sim Fubara signed the unwise pact, truth remains that “Governor Fubara did not sign the agreement as he signed the unwise pact with Black biro instead of Red biro as expected of him as a Governor so such signing has no bearing as the pact is unimplementable.

“Besides, the document has some question marks as the whole handwritings are all same which is not possible indicating that the document was prepared before the commencement and conclusion of the meeting. Check the writing carefully in the attached document. All signatures were signed before Wike and Ribadu signed. Even the over ambitious Tony Okocha wanted to sign with the Red Biro,” he posited.

Eze maintained that “if the story that is out is true, then here comes dictatorship as Governor Fubara seems to have been ‘deballed’ by Wike while Edison and his colleagues who stood by the Governor have been thrown under the bus. This is pure political/economic castration of the Niger Delta through Fubara’s Rivers State.”

The APC chieftain commended Rivers State ex-Goveenor, Dr. Peter Odili “for not appending his expensive signature to such a pact aimed at caging governance in Rivers State.”

Eze queried the presence of Tony Okocha, whom he described as an imposter and none member of APC, in such gathering where he was also permitted to sign the agreement without even the presence of the authentic APC State Chairman, Chief Emeka Beke

Eze counseled Fubara to “disregard the pact and consult widely with Rivers State stakeholders before implementing any portion of that pact unless he is tired to continue to act as the Governor of Rivers State.”

Insisting that the defected Lawmakers have lost their seats according to the constitution, Eze restated that there’s nothing that can be done to bring them back to the legislature given that the matter is constitutional.

The APC chieftain called on president Tinubu to act as a Statesman and do the necessary by calling Wike to order before he brings unprecedented calamity to the state.