By Jonathan Elendu
There are indications that the political crisis in Rivers state, orchestrated by the former governor, Nyesom Wike and the incumbent governor, Simi Fubara is over. At least for now.
This was after a meeting brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa.
The meeting was attended by the President, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Gov Simi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, the factional speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly, Amaewhule and others.
The meeting resolved that “all matters instituted in the courts by the governor in respect of the political crisis be withdrawn immediately”.
It was also agreed that “all impeachment proceedings against the governor by the Rivers state House of Assembly be dropped immediately.”
It was further resolved that the leadership of the Rivers state House of Assembly shall be led by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule. It was agreed that the 27 members who decamped to APC shall remain in the House.
There had been a spate of resignations by commissioners following the crisis. The meeting resolved that the names of the commissioners shall be represented to the House of Assembly.
The resolution also stated that there shall be no Caretaker Committees in the Local Governments.
The pecuniary interests of the 27 members were taken care of as it was resolved that all their remunerations shall be paid to them.
A political analyst who spoke to Elendureports on the condition of anonymity described the resolution as “a postponement of the evil day.”
“Neither Wike nor Sim will be happy with this resolution. While I think it’s the best thing that can happen to our state, this is not the last we’ll hear of this, trust me. These guys are hard men and will continue this fight through proxies and other means until one person is down,” he said.
Interestingly, the resolution did not mention the four members loyal to Gov. Simi Fubara who were suspended by the 27.
Former Rivers state governor, Dr. Peter Odili, football legend, Adoki Amesieamaka and the 4 members of the House of Assembly sympathetic to Gov. Fubara were at the meeting.
Gov. Odili had the onerous task of reading out the resolution at the meeting.
Feelers from Port Harcourt indicate that the resolution is seen as favouring Nyesom Wike.
A source at the meeting said, “it was obvious to everyone at the meeting that the president was not happy with Simi. In fact, he said as much.”
A political activist in Diobu, Port Harcourt said, “what exactly did Gov. Simi Fubara get out of this resolution? They humiliated him. That so called resolution cannot bring peace to Rivers state.
“Tinubu has simply castrated Simi to favour his friend, the FCT Minister.
“One would expect a celebrated democrat like Tinubu not to side with the kind of tyranny that Wike wants to foist on Rivers state. That agreement is short of our expectations for a man like Tinubu.”
