Amaewhule-led Assembly doesn’t exist, says gov
The lingering feud between the executive and the legislature in Rivers State seems to have taken a different dimension as pro-Nyesom Wike lawmakers had threatened that if Governor Siminialayi Fubara continues to award contracts without the backing of the law, they will, at the appropriate time, take more stringent measures.
The lawmakers noted that they cannot stand and watch the governor continue to breach the laws of the state in a tyrannical manner.
The lawmakers gave the warning, yesterday, at its 173rd Legislative Sitting, just as they enacted the Rivers State Electricity Market Bill, 2024.
The bill, sponsored by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, sought to repeal the Rivers State Electricity and Gas Board Law CAP 50, Laws of Rivers State, 1999.
The Speaker noted that the Rivers State Electricity Market, if passed into law, will provide for electricity supply, power generation, transmission and distribution within the state. He added that it will establish the Rivers State Electricity Commission for the enforcement of consumers’ rights and obligations and connected purposes.
Also, the Rivers State Local Government (Consolidation) Bill, 2024, was presented by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol. The bill seeks to consolidate all the local council laws in the state for ease of reference; both bills were read the first time.
Meanwhile, after its passage on March 26, the Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed into law, as the lawmakers, again, overrode the governor’s assent.
This was contained in a statement by Martins Wachukwu, the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker.
The bill was represented at plenary by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and members debated on the essence of the bill, which, according to them, sought to secure taxpayers’ money, ensuring it is not spent on frivolities and twisted contracts.
Amaewhule bemoaned a situation where due process is relegated to the background, alleging that contracts are awarded without legal backing, and the state is being governed in a dictatorial manner.
MEANWHILE, Fubara has said that the Amaewhule-led Assembly does not exist.
According to the governor, the lawmakers’ seats became vacant after they defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor explained that he had acted like the big brother in the crisis, not interested in destroying the House so that meaningful development could continue to be engendered in the state while securing a tenable political relationship.
Fubara stated this when he received, on a courtesy visit, the Bayelsa State delegation of political and traditional leaders, led by former governor of the state, Henry Seriake Dickson, at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
