•Governor Fubara and the waiting crowd yesterday
Unknown to the supporters waiting to receive him back into the Government House yesterday, reinstated Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was airborne at the time they were drumming and singing in front of the facility in Port Harcourt.
Fubara and Rivers State House of Assembly members got the nod to return to office as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu terminated the six-month emergency rule at midnight on Wednesday, reports The Nation.
In anticipation of his resumption, supporters of the governor thronged the Government House in large numbers as early as 6am drumming and singing, but Fubara was nowhere to be found.
Nobody gave any indication to the crowd as to why he did not turn up.
But Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike dropped the hint last night when he appeared on a national television programme, that Fubara left Europe where he was on vacation yesterday morning.
But the lawmakers had a session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule to signify their return to duties.
During the session, they expressed their readiness to start receiving correspondence from the governor.
During the first post-emergency rule plenary, the lawmakers unfolded plans to review the budget passed during the tenure of Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, who bowed out on Wednesday night following a broadcast.
Wike, who assured that peace had returned to the state, said he spoke with Fubara on Wednesday ahead of the lifting of the emergency rule by President Tinubu.
He said stakeholders were now committed to moving the state forward.
He said: “As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the governor. I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning.
“So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned. And look at what the Assembly did today to set the tone — you can see peace; you can see we are prepared, for the interest of the state. Let’s move forward.”
Asked who among them placed the call to the other, Wike said it is not important who called, adding that what mattered is that there is peace again in the state.
Wike added that he has forgiven Fubara, saying there is no more conflict between him and his successor.
He said: “I have already said that we’ve been speaking. I will not engage with a man I have not forgiven. Everything is over. I am not a politician, who says one thing today and another tomorrow. We must move forward.”
The FCT minister also criticised those he said are opposed to the return of peace in the state, saying they are only interested in fuelling the crisis.
No communication from governor
There was anxiety as Fubara did not resume, despite the handover by Ibas.
The governor, who was not sighted anywhere in the state, did not also make any broadcast to the people.
Fubara’s supporters under the aegis of the disbanded ‘Simplified Movement’ from the 23 local governments besieged the Government House gate to receive him from 6 am.
Victor Oko-Jumbo, and sacked council chairmen – Chijoke Ihunwo and Ichemati Ezebunwo – were among loyalists, who led others to wait for the governor.
They turned the arena into a carnival, with flutes, drums, dancing troupes and other musical instruments, to welcome Fubara.
The supporters occupied the stretch of Nnamdi Azikiwe Road and adjoining streets, blocking the area and denying commuters access to the roads.
Motorists were forced to divert their vehicles to the internal roads, which were partly blocked by the supporters’ vehicles.
After waiting for seven hours, the crowd began to disperse when there was no positive response to the enquiries by their leaders.
Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) at the Government House gate did not allow anybody to enter.
However, the House of Assembly reconvened at the conference hall in the legislative quarters, which had served as its temporary chamber since their official chamber on Moscow Road was bombed by arsonists and pulled down by the state government.
Efforts by Ibas to complete reconstruction of the Assembly quarters proved abortive.
The lawmakers set agenda for the remaining part of the third session through a motion by the House Leader, Major Jack, on behalf of eight other co-sponsors.
They said the agenda contained in the motion reflected current realities.
Amaewhule commended President Tinubu for restoring democratic institutions in the state.
He said the House would work with the governor and abide by the terms of the peace parley and the Constitution in the interest of good governance.
The House resolved to call on Fubara to forward the list of commissioner-nominees for screening and confirmation in line with the Constitution.
The House called on the governor to forward an Appropriation Bill to cover the remaining part of the year.
The lawmakers resolved to probe the six months emergency rule, with a view to determining the award of contracts and expenditure from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.
They emphasised the need to ascertain the budget passed by the National Assembly and received by Ibas.
The lawmakers said reviewing the budget was important because the 10th Assembly did not make any input into it.
The resolutions were taken after a voice vote by 26 members, excluding the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, who was absent.
The Speaker said: “We never sighted the budget by the National Assembly, but only read it on the pages of newspapers. We don’t know its content. No member of the House is against the motions; there is need to ascertain what came into Rivers State and expenditure by the administrator”.
Amaewhule adjourned the sitting till 10 am on Monday.
The motion, as read by the House leader, said: “Pursuant to the foregoing, we wish to respectfully pray this august House to resolve as follows:
“Commend the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for restoring democratic institutions in the state;
“Declare that the House would continue to abide by all the terms of the peace parley and the constitution of the Nigeria in the interest of peace and good governance of Rivers State;
“Call on the Governor of Rivers State Sir Siminalayı Fubara to forward the list of his nominees for appointment as commissioners into the state Executive Council in line with the Constitution and terms or the peace раrlеу;
“Call on the governor to commence the process of coming up with an Appropriation Law for the remaining part of the year to address current realities;
“Ascertain what transpired in the last six months with regards to award or contracts and expenditure from the consolidated revenue fund of the state.
“Immediately outline the legislative agenda for the remaining part or the third session of the 10th Assembly to reflect current realities;
“Make any other orders this House may deem necessary in the circumstance.”
The Speaker commended the sponsors of the motion, lamenting that the emergency rule prevented the legislative business of the House.
Amaewhule said: “But we thank God that we’re back. There’s need to abide by the terms of the peace parley. I listened to you all and no member is against the prayers, especially on commendation for the President, forwarding of commissioners nominees by the Governor and review of what transpired in the last six months and what happened to the budget.
“If the state needs to move forward, the issue of budget and others should be taken into consideration. The governor should liaise with us regarding the prayers.”
