There is a brewing crisis in the political landscape of Rivers State as both the executive and legislative arms of the state government are locking horns over the governance of the state.
This is as lawmakers loyal to the ex-governor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, at their sitting, yesterday, passed the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into Law by overriding the assent of the Governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
Recall that on March 13, 2024, the House passed the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and forwarded the same to Fubara for assent, which the governor declined.
According to a statement from the press unit of the Assembly, the Bill was represented by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and debated upon by members.The move by the lawmakers, which is under the provisions of Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, empowers the House to override the governor, where he withholds his assent.
The statement also noted that the House screened and confirmed nominees for the position of chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission. Those screened and confirmed were Sampson Worlu as Chairman, Abinye Blessing Pepple, Blessing Belema Derefaka, Gbaranen Robinson and Dorcas Amos as members.
Just as the Local Government Amended Bill, on March 22, 2024, the House passed the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill into law, wherein the House donated back to itself the power to appoint the chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission.
The Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, put the question, and with a two-thirds majority vote, the House agreed to override the governor and passed the Bill into law.
The development has raised many questions from different quarters in the state, as political analysts say the lawmakers are flexing their muscles just to jostle power with the executive.