By Jonathan Elendu
Following the resolution of the Rivers State political crisis which was brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, December 18th at Aso Rock Villa, Elendu Reports investigation has revealed that a new crisis is brewing.
There have been questions as to why the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Edison Ehie did not sign the resolution.
According to sources at the Aso Rock Villa meeting, while Edison Ehie and the other 3 members of his faction were present at the meeting, Hon. Ehie refused to sign because he felt “let down” by Gov. Simi Fubara.
“The Speaker felt betrayed by Gov. Simi Fubara for readily accepting the President’s proposal rather than sticking to what had been agreed initially. Naturally, Edison felt the governor threw him under the bus instead of protecting his mandate.”
Another source told this reporter that Hon. Edison Ehie had desired the position of Speaker so much that when he lost out and was given the position of Majority leader he refused to go to work for nearly three months. The Deputy Leader, Hon. Linda Stewart had to stand in for him. “Hon. Linda Stewart had to carry Edison’s work. The woman saved us from embarrassment.”
Hon. Edison Ehie and Gov. Simi Fubara have not enjoyed a long friendship, contrary to what many people think. Their closeness came about because they were dissatisfied with former governor and FCT Minister, Bar. Nyesom Wike.
Edison was the Deputy Speaker in the last Assembly. He expected to step into the Speaker role. Unfortunately for him Nyesom Wike preferred and trusted Hon. Martin Amaehule more. However, Edison is said to have benefitted immensely from the former governor.
“Edison was very depressed and a mutual friend brought him and Gov. Simi together. That’s how the plot to take back the Assembly was hatched,” according to a Rivers State Government House source.
This source corroborated what this reporter had been told days earlier.
To execute their plan Hon. Edison Ehie was given N3b naira by Gov. Simi Fubara to “influence” and possibly “buy” a majority of the Assembly members. There are 31 of them.
According to Government House sources, Edison gave Tonye Smart Adoki, a repentant militant also known as Anyila N20m. Elendureports was informed that it was through ‘Anyila’ that the other members of the House of Assembly knew about the N3b largesse.
Elendureports was informed that Hon. Edison Ehie has vowed to take down Gov. Simi Fubara with him. “He promised that since Simi threw him under the bus he will not go alone. He will take Simi with him,” the source said.
Elendu Reports has not been able to independently confirm these allegations against Edison and Anyila.
On the morning of Friday, 22nd December a rally was held in front of Government House, Port Harcourt. The rally, we are told, was organised by Chijioke Ihunwo, factional leader of the National Youth Council of Nigeria. We are reliably informed that he was installed by Nyesom Wike. They are both from Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
Government House sources informed this reporter that Ihunwo was given N100m by Gov. Simi Fubara to mobilize his members to support the government. These sources said Ihunwo quickly organised Friday morning’s rally as a way to retire the money he was given. Again, we are yet to independently confirm these allegations.
There is palpable anger against Minister Nyesom Wike and Pres. Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State following what many perceive as a lopsided and unfair 8-point resolution.
We called the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Joe Johnson to confirm the information herein. He told us he was in a meeting. He promised to call back. He did not call back at the time of the publication.