₦airaland Forum

Southern Governors Back Fubara On Tenure Of Local Govt Chairmen In Rivers State

Governors of the southern region of the country have declared support for the position of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on the tenure of local government chairmen in Rivers State.
Speaking on the political upheaval in Rivers State based on the tenure of local government chairmen, the chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, said it was unconstitutional for anybody to extend the tenure of constitutionally elected public servants.
He argued that the law is very clear on the tenure of elected officials, and when the tenure expires, there is no need to extend it by whatever means.
Speaking against the backdrop of the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to extend the tenure of the local government chairmen in the state, but which was refused by Governor Fubara, who then went ahead to appoint caretaker chairmen, Abiodun in an interview with a national television said it would be a dangerous precedent to extend the tenure of local government chairman.
Speaking on behalf of other Governors from the region, Abiodun said if tenure extension is allowed, then it will become a reference point in the future and such is capable of truncating democracy in Nigeria.
“When your tenure has expired, it stands to reason that your tenure has expired.
“It is not up to the governor of that state or anybody else to extend the tenure of the local government chairmen.
“The collective position of the governors is that it would be a dangerous precedent and an abuse of the democratic ethos for the tenure of an elected local government chairman to expire and for anyone to imagine that their tenure can be extended by one day.
“I think that puts that matter to rest. If that is not the case, that becomes a precedent, a reference point, and the thing is that somebody will ask for a tenure extension.
“Our democracy has evolved and we should not do anything to truncate the process.”

Sim Fubara is in charge 💪 😊

Former Chairman of Nigeria Copyright commission in Abuja ready to serve Gov Sim Fubara in Rivers.

Ladies and Gentlemen meet Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, a lawyer with specialisation in Legislative Drafting and Law Reform.

Currently a senior lawyer at a federal government Institute in Abuja.

Formerly, a law lecturer/Managing Editor at the Faculty of Law, University of Port Harcourt.

A teacher and trainer of Judges and staff of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal

He was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Abuja.

He also authored and co-authored several law books including a book about the Courtroom trial of King Jaja of Opobo in 1887.

His PhD in law degree at the University of London was sponsored by the Rivers state Government.

He is an expert in law (Legislative Drafting) and ready to serve Rivers state as a consultant for Review of the Laws of Rivers State 1967 to 2024.

South Africa move to joint top in Group C after beating Zimbabwe in a group that includes Nigeria.

Nine African teams will Qualify for the World Cup in 2026, one will go to the play-off tournament


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hObB1pA6vyU?si=EH8dDOwyIw54VvYT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csr-du7Eywo?si=OqlBZViqA9XXViRb

TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY DAGOGO IBOROMA, SAN, RIVERS STATE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE ON MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2024

Gentlemen of the Press

• As Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and 3rd defendant in SUIT NO DHC/20/CS/2024, my attention has been drawn to a recent judgment. This suit did not seek to declare the seat of Martins Amaewhule and 26 others in Rivers State House of Assembly vacant.

• The suit of the claimants was struck out for want of locus standi and jurisdiction and also for being an abuse of court process which robbed the trial court of jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

• There is misleading news circulating in social media, print and electronic media that Martins Amaewhule & 26 others are members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

• As you all know, Martins Amaewhule and 26 others defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th Day of December, 2023 and stated that much in affidavit evidence deposed to by Martins Amaewhule for himself and on behalf of 26 others in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1681/CS/2023 before Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. The Suit is still pending in court.

• By section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is only the Federal High Court that can determine whether Martins Amaewhule and 26 others are still members of Peoples Democratic Party and also members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This much was held by the trial court.

However, you will recall that these is a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction in Suit No.
PHC/512/CS/2024 restraining Martins Amaewhule and his co-travelers from further parading or presenting themselves as law makers in Rivers State pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has not been appealed against till date.

• We urge the public to disregard the news presently making rounds in social, print and electronic media to the effect that Martins Amaewhule and 26 others have been declared as members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbZqUnivRzs?si=Qwpa_PEpvc9ZX4fu

The Ogonigba women community requests that Hyper City return their land (trans Amadi Slaughter

Rivers Economic investment is Ongoing

More

BFIG group is the preferred bidder for the smelter but RUSAL said that it had secured judgement from the London Court of Arbitration that ALSCON was properly privatized.

However, in an attempt to enforce the judgement of the Supreme Court, BFIG group led by its President, Chief Reuben Jaja and representatives of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) visited the ALSCON plant but were denied entry by RUSAL

It was gathered that when the BFIG delegation arrived, the ALSCON gate was securely locked and mounted by a combined team of the police and army officers.

It took several hours of persuasions for officials of ALSCON to allow just one representatives of BFIG to go in and hold talks with the Russians while the rest of the delegation waited in the scorching sun for more than four hours.

Fielding questions from journalists after the long wait on Thursday, lead counsel to the BFIG group, Chief Patrick Ikwueti (SAN), said they were in ALSCON, after a meeting with the Attorney general of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, to begin the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgement

He said, “We are here because following the last Supreme Court judgement over the ALSCON matter, the one that was given on the 26th of January, 2024, we had a meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and the BPE and we agreed on a number of things we have to do to fully enforce the Supreme Court judgement given on ALSCON since 2012, and part of what we agreed was that we should have a visit to ALSCON facility here in Ikot Abasi.”

Ikwueto said though the BFIG representatives had limited access into the premises, the company is satisfied that ALSCON actually exist in terms of physical building, adding however that he does not know the actual state of the plant.

ALSCON Managing Director, Dmitriy Zaviyalov had claimed during a media interaction with journalists in Uyo that ALSCON and the Nigerian Government had agreed that the last court of arbitration would be the London Court of Arbitration.

“You should understand that in our agreement with the Nigerian Government, it was agreed that the last court of arbitration would be the London Court of Arbitration,” Zaviyalov had said.

But reacting to Zaviyalov’s claim, Ikwueto said that the Supreme Court in it last judgement had underscored that that agreement was in itself a contempt of the court.

“While we were in court in 2004 and 2006, the Russians purportedly signed an agreement with BPE. That agreement was signed while the matter was still pending before the court.

“But the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2012 was specific that there was an order of injunction perpetually restraining the BPE from negotiating, selling or transferring ALSCON to anybody.

“So, the arbitration that you are talking about was based on Shared Purchase Agreement (SPA) they claimed to have signed in 2006 while the matter was pending in court.

“The Supreme Court in it last judgement on 26th January, 2024, underscored that the agreement was, in itself a contempt of the court” Ikwueto stated.

Our correspondent reports that the youths of Ikot-Abasi LGA had earlier on Saturday morning staged a protest to register their grievances against the Russians for locking the gate against BFIG group.

The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions expressing their happiness over the Supreme Court judgement which declared BFIG group winner and preferred bidder for ALSCON.

Source:
https://dailypost.ng/2024/05/18/supreme-court-judgement-bfig-moves-to-take-over-alscon-plant-from-rusal/

Following a January 2024 Supreme Court judgement, BFIG corporation has begun the process of taking over the moribund Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State from its current operators, RUSAL.


It would be recalled that the apex court had, since 2012, ruled that the BFIG group is the preferred bidder for the smelter but RUSAL said that it had secured judgement from the London Court of Arbitration that ALSCON was properly privatized.

However, in an attempt to enforce the judgement of the Supreme Court, BFIG group led by its President, Chief Reuben Jaja and representatives of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) visited the ALSCON plant but were denied entry by RUSAL

Some Ikot Abasi youths accuse Rusal and Russians of deliberately vandalizing some critical component of the ALSCON plant.

The ALSCON plant has the potential create jobs and opportunities for Nigeria locally and international

Many youths of Ikot Abasi are asking Russian company Rusal to respect the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruling to vacate the ALSCON plant for the preferred bid winner

Nyesom Wike lives like King Nebuchadnezzar

Mr Mistake:

I made a mistake supporting Aminu Tambuwal for the PDP ticket in 2019. I made yet another mistake in 2021 by supporting Senator Iyorchia Ayu as PDP National Chairman. And, most recently, I made a mistake in 2023 by supporting Sir Sim Fubara as my successor.

Sad

Guess who?
Fct minister or Governor?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GStrbH3DKI?si=5Esr5uIHrRVTSdHb

A high court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali, has issued an Order of interim injunction restraining Martin Amaewhule and his co-travellers from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly or from meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other place whatsoever to carry out or purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, as their legislative seats have been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

Gov Fubara should immediately provide a place for the three(3) constitutionally recognized RSHA members to start functioning...

RIVERS ASSEMBLY: NEW SPEAKER EMERGES, DECLARES ACTIONS OF AMAEWHULE-LED FACTION VOID

The Rivers State House of Assembly has at its sitting held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 elected Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo representing Bonny State Constituency as the new speaker.

The House further declared all actions taken by the members of the factional Assembly led by Hon. Martin Amaewhule as void and a nullity in the eyes of the law and further called on Gov. Siminalayi Fubara to stop dealing with the former lawmakers who lost their seat following their defection.

While addressing the house the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo said his emergence was in pursuant to the resignation of Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenya Ehie and in line with section 92(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

He thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him assuring that he will continue to work with them to move the state forward.

The Speaker noted that after the House last sat on December 13, 2023 and adjourned sine dine, there has been an avalanche of legislative rascality perpetrated by the 25 former members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.

Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo emphasised that the former members were aware of the provisions of section 109(1)(g) of the CFRN 1999, and following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie who then became the Speaker on December 13, 2023 wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring the seats of the 25 lawmakers vacant in line with section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, stressing that there are numerous pending cases in the courts over the defection of the former lawmakers.

He therefore stated that, "All laws, plenary sessions and actions taken by the illegal House are hereby declared void and a nullity in the eyes of the law by virtue of the judgment of Lord Denning in the celebrated case of MacFoy v UAC (1961) 3 All ER 1169, which held that "you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand."

Oko-Jumbo quoted further, "If an act is void, then it is in law a nullity. It is not only bad, but incurably bad. There is no need for an order of court to set it aside. It is automatically null and void without more ado, though it is sometimes more convenient to have the court declare it to be so. And every proceeding which is founded on it is also bad and incurably bad. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there. It will collapse."

The Speaker directed the Executive arm, the Judiciary and general public to disregard every law purportedly enacted by the illegal Assembly as they all amount to nothing but an exercise in futility.

"Furthermore, this House would want to most respectfully urge and call on His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminilayi Fubara, to stop dealing with the 25 former lawmakers, in whatever guise."

"Those members are merely floating and do not have any landing ground or anywhere to berth their ship since their defection to the All Progressive Congress on the 11th of December, 2023. This House is the legally and Constitutionally recognised House by virtue of the defection, and is ready to receive correspondences from and work with His Excellency."

He assured of the house unalloyed and unwavering support to work with Governor Siminalayi Fubara in moving Rivers State forward and in promoting the progress and welfare of the State.

Addressing newsmen after the sitting which held at 10:00am, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo called on all Rivers people to join and support the government of Sir Siminalayi Fubara as the house is ready to give its best for the service of the state

On his part the Chairman of the Business Committee of the House, Hon. Sokari Goodboy, assured of the house commitment to the advancement of the state and are ready to support the speaker. He urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara not to have anything to do with the former members of the house in order not to attract the wrath of the house.

Also in a twist, the Assembly Sergeant-at-arms, Mr. David Wariboko whom Martin Amaewhule-led factional Assembly allegedly suspended was seen performing his duties with the Assembly under Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.

- Gist Report

May 8, 2024

Press Conference

PDP to APC: Perish the Thoughts of Forceful Take Over of Rivers State

The attention of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a delusional declaration by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Mr. Tony Okocha wherein he issued a hallucinatory directive that an impeachment proceeding be commenced against the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

Such reckless and unwarranted statement by the APC Chairman in Rivers State exposes the vile desperation of the APC, which is roundly rejected in Rivers State, to use violence, coercion and bullying to undermine the WILL of the people and forcefully take over the State.

The fact that the Rivers State APC Chairman, in his warped imagination, thinks he can direct impeachment proceeding against a duly elected State Governor not only shows the level of APC’s arrogance and condescension for the people of Rivers State but also further confirms APC’s desperation to forcefully annex their democratic rights under the Constitution.

In any event, the individuals that the Rivers State APC Chairman directed to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara are not legally members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot contemplate or exercise such powers under the law.

These individuals, by virtue of Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) have since vacated and lost their seats, rights, privileges, recognition and obligations accruable to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly after their defection from the PDP, the political Party platform upon which they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly

For emphasis, Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution provides that:

“a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if … (g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political Party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected…”

It should be noted that Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution is self-executory. The import of this provision is that the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected have vacated their seat by reason of that defection.

The unlawful directive by the Rivers State APC Chairman to these individuals to commence an impeachment proceeding against the Governor is therefore a brazen call for anarchy as it amounts to an attempt to forcefully overthrow a democratic Order in clear violation of Section 1 sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

For clarity, Section 1 Sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides;

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.

The PDP draws the attention of the Inspector General of Police to the subversive utterances of the APC Chairman in Rivers State which is capable of triggering crisis and derailing the Democratic Order in the country.

The APC must perish the thought of forcefully taking over Rivers State as such is a direct assault on the sensibility of the people which will be resisted firmly.

The APC Chairman in Rivers State should come to terms with the fact that Rivers State is home to PDP and that the people of Rivers State are not ready to put their destiny in the hands of a corrupt, oppressive and anti-people Special Purpose Vehicle like the APC.

The national leadership of the PDP expresses appreciation to the people of Rivers State for always standing with the PDP and urges them to continue to resist the APC in its vicious attempt to inject violence and destabilize the State

Thank you for listening

Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzSDOv7WkoQ?si=epkq7_6lL_Rkv2_2

WE OPERATE TRANSPARENT ACCOUNTING SYSTEM - GOV. SIM FUBARA

.Says State IGR Nets from N13 billion to Over N26billion Revenue Monthly

.Funds Projects With IGR Savings

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has restated that his Administration operates a transparent accounting system in its deployment of scarce resources in providing essential services to the people.

Governor Fubara spoke when he played host to the leadership and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts on a courtesy visit to Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The Governor recalled that when he was appointed the Accountant General in 2020, the public accounting reporting position of the State changed for the best because he understood the numbers and how to clearly present the details.

He said that culture of prudence and transparency has been maintained as he assumed governorship of the State despite the challenges that had confronted his Administration.

Governor Fubara stated that in managing the finances, he has also increased the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State, which are judiciously deployed to deliver on the core target areas of his Administration.

He said, "As an organised Government, when we came on board, we met a very big challenge. For 11 years, there was no promotion in this State Civil Service. So, imagine a Government that inherited about 52,000 civil servants, and you want to pay them for years that they had been denied their dues.

"What we were paying before I came in was an average of N5.3billion. Let us even do 25 percent of it: it can't be anything less than 8 point something billion that we are doing now. That was what we started paying.

"How much is our allocation? So, we needed to think outside the box. That was where we now did a rejig of our Internally Generated Revenue. And I can tell you today that all the projects we are doing, we don't borrow," he said.

Governor Fubara insisted: "We are very transparent. We are not hiding anything.
That is why I boldly would say it.
The least we do this period is 26billion - N27billion.
The highest they were doing before was N12billion - N13billion."

The Governor emphasised that everything will be done to apply the funds in areas that will bring positive change in improving education, healthcare and agriculture in the State.

"We will also do a few roads but the most important things are these three sectors.
That is the only way we can save ourselves from this present situation of hardship.
Save ourselves from the issues of societal ill: you call it cultism and others.

"Education is the only instrument we can use to fight social vices. And we need quality healthcare.
You need to be alive to even drive a good car on the roads. You can imagine how much we spend on medical tourism.

"Then, agriculture: we have to ensure food security and sufficiency. We have to feed ourselves to tame hunger. So, those are the targets of this Government."

Governor Fubara assured that no matter the challenges facing his Administration, his eyes will still be on the ball, and will not lose focus.

The Governor insisted: "We have promised our people that our Government will be for the people. We care for the people.
The people are more important to us. When you have the people, you have everything.

"It doesn't matter the high and mighty, the number of policemen that you carry around. The people are most important. Because the people are the ones who, in their sub-units, control people who at the end, make the decisions when the time comes.

"It is not the policemen. It is not the army. It is not the escorts. It is the people. So, our concern is how to meet the needs if the people," the Governor added.

Governor Fubara also said that the country was at a crossroads, and emphasised the need to stand on the side of truth matter the number supporting you.

"What is important is any decision you make, you weigh it. What matters in life is, not coming on radio or television to talk about integrity. No. There are things that matter! Display evidence, public signs on your body and around you that show if you have integrity."

In his address, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Hon Bamidele Salam, said they were in the State for the first retreat of the committee.

Hon Salam pointed out that they chose the State because it is peaceful, and has a Governor who understands what governance truly means and has never been distracted by the political crisis confronting his Administration.

He commended the Governor for achieving over 26 projects in his first 100 days in office, and urged him to continue to deliver dividends of democracy to Rivers people.

He also urged the Governor yo continue to anchor his Administration on peace, saying that without peace, they can never be any meaningful development in the State.

About 36 members of the committee, their aides and the retreat consultants were on the delegation for the visit.

Signed
Nelson Chukwudi

Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor

Friday, April 19, 2024.

Nebuchadnezzar was under declaring our revenue normally and donating the rest and funding anti party activities

Sad

Wke was looting

Some body was chopping

Rivers state internal generated revenue have increased from N12b to N26b since Gov Sim Fubara assumed office..

WE'LL APPLY OUR IGR FOR POSITIVE CHANGE - GOV. FUBARA

...Promises to remain upright no matter the challenges

...Says his administration improved IGR from N12 billion to N27billion, executes project without borrowing

...Commends Reps members for acknowledging his work, peace in Rivers

...Says RS civil servants were stagnated for 11 years without promotion

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has assured that his administration will apply funds from the state's internally generated revenue on areas that will bring positive changes to the people.

He specifically emphasised the priority areas to include education, healthcare and agriculture adding that the effort will not preclude road infrastructure.

Governor Fubara made this known when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, led by its chairman, Hon. Bamidele Salam was on a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.

The governor noted that deploying the resources for the well-being of the people is what is more important to his government so as to reduce hardship and other societal ills which include cultism.

"No matter the challenges we are facing today, our eyes will still be on the ball. We will not lose focus. We have promised our people that our government will be a government of the people. We care for the people as they are the most important thing to us."

Sir Fubara revealed that his government inherited the challenges of non-promotion of the state's civil servants for 11 years with a workforce of about 52,000 and a wage bill of over N5.3 billion, stressing that on assumption he promoted the workforce and the wage bill increased to over N8billion.

He emphasised that with the increase his administration had to also rejig the internally generated revenue mechanism and that led to an improvement from previous of between N12billion and N13billion to between N26billion and N27billion.

"What we were paying before I came in was an average of N5.3billion, let us even say 25% of it across board, it can't be anything less than N8billion. That is what we started paying."

"So, we have to think outside the box, and rejigged our internally generated revenue and I can tell you today that all the projects we are doing, we are not borrowing."

"We are very transparent, we are not hiding anything. That is why I can boldly say it. The least we get this period is between N26billion and N27billion. The highest they were doing before was between the N12billion and N13billion."

Governor Fubara restated his commitment to continue to be upright as the virtue that even led to his emergence as the governor, and further assured that his government will be prudent in the management of the state's resources for the development of the state.

"I can boldly say without fear, nobody can take it away from me. And if there is anything that made me win this position in the heart of even those that are fighting me, it is because I was upright."

"So, if I were upright at that time and helped me to be where I am through God, although, they say it is them, but nothing happens without God."

"Therefore, if I could be upright then, why won't I be more upright now? I assure you that that aspect of my life, no matter the challenges, I will not throw it to the dustbin."

He appreciated the Committee for the honour of choosing Rivers State for the retreat as it significantly shows that Rivers State is peaceful and that the government is working.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Bamidele Salam commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for being conscious in his determination to serve the people and not being distracted by challenges.

He said the peaceful nature of the state and the governor being a driver of good governance made the Committee choose the state for the retreat to serve as a template to other states.

- Gist Report