The Rivers State House of Assembly has overridden the assent of Governor Siminialayi Fubara for the third time in three months.
For the third time in three months, the Rivers State House of Assembly has continued to exercise the powers of the provisions of Section 100 (5)of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic (as altered) as it overrides the assent of Governor Siminialayi Fubara to pass the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024 into Law on Monday
The House, which is undoubtedly loyal to Nyesom Wike, former governor of the state and Minister of the FCT, decided to override the Governor’s veto after he withheld his assent.
OrderPaper recalls that in March, the assembly had ruled against Fubara to enact the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) Service Commission Law and did the same in April by passing the local government amendment bill into law despite the refusal of Fubara to give his assent.
The House passed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment)Bill, 2024 on the 26th of March, 2024 and transmitted the same to the Governor for assent, which the Governor declined.
Remarking on the Bill which was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack and debated upon by Members, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule reiterated the essence of the Bill, which is to secure taxpayers’ money and to ensure that taxpayers money is not spent on frivolities and twisted contracts.
Amaewhule added that the House will continue to uphold the Laws of Rivers State and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered; stressing that if Governor Fubara continues, the House will at the appropriate time take more stringent measures, because according to him, the House cannot stand aloof and watch the Governor continue to breach the Laws of the State in a tyrannical manner.
Thereafter, the House voted, and with a two-third majority vote, passed the Bill into Law.
Meanwhile, Fubara, has declared that the Amaewhule-led group of lawmakers do not exist anymore in the eyes of the law.
Speaking when he received the Bayelsa State delegation of political and traditional leaders, led by former Governor of the State, Senator Seriake Dickson, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday, Fubara stated that despite wielding state powers that he can deploy to achieve his aim, he has continued to act as the big brother in the face of intimidation and unwarranted attacks.
“Let me say it here, those groups of men who claim that they are assembly members, they do not exist. I want it to be on the record. I want you to see the sacrifice I have made to allow peace to be in our state. I can say here, with all amount of boldness, I have never called any policeman anywhere to go and harass anybody.
“We might have our division, but I believe that one day, we could also come together, but it has gotten to a time when I have to make a statement that they are not existing. Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognize them, they are nowhere. I want you to see the sacrifice I have made in allowing peace to reign in our state.”
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OrderPaper recalls that Fubara and Wike have been at loggerheads over control of the state which has divided Federal lawmakers, the State Assembly and political actors in the state.
