Pro-Wike Rivers Lawmakers Move Against Fubara, Take Fresh Action on Attacks on LG Secretariats

Martins Amaewhule, the Speaker of a faction of the House of Assembly in Rivers State has launched a separate probe into the October 7th violent attacks and destruction of some local government areas’ secretariats in the state.

The move is seen as a direct challenge to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who had earlier set up a seven-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the same incident.

The lawmakers’ decision to conduct their own probe is believed to be influenced by their loyalty to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is at odds with Governor Fubara.

It can be recalled the crisis in Rivers State escalated in October, with some councils’ secretariats burnt in the riot that ensued when the newly inaugurated local government chairmen took over their secretariats.

The Amaewhule-led House of Assembly has called on the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions to expedite action in submitting reports on the various petitions referred to the Committee. Amaewhule particularly asked the committee to submit the report of its investigations on the disturbances witnessed in the state on the 7th of October, 2024, which affected some local government council secretariats.

A statement signed by Amaewhule’s Special Assistant on Media, Martins Wachukwu, said Amaewhule reminded the committee of Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which he said gave the House the power to conduct investigations and urged the committee to accelerate the process.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara had earlier set up a seven-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the destruction of the local government secretariats. The commission’s report was submitted to the governor a few days ago, and Fubara has vowed to implement the white paper that would emerge from the commission’s report to stop the trend of bombing public infrastructures in Rivers.