Opposition Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over Alleged Plots to Destabilise Rivers State LG Elections
By Gloria Essien, Abuja
Nigeria’s Opposition lawmakers coalition has raised alarm over alleged fresh plot to destabilise Rivers State local government election.
The federal lawmakers also alerted Nigerians of the attempt by the Rivers State House of Assembly members who are supporting the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike to avoid receiving the 2025 budget as directed by the Supreme Court, saying that their action will not stop governance.
The opposition lawmakers made this known in a Press briefing in reaction to the developments in Rivers State.
The Federal lawmakers through their Spokesperson, Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere also disclosed plot to destabilise Rivers LGA election with illegal amendment of the law and court orders, saying that regardless of their plan, the election will hold as planned.
According to them, the Pro Wike lawmakers planned the amendment of the LGA law to frustrate the conduct of election and to allow former local government chairmen whose tenure has gone has expired to come back.
The coalition assured Rivers people that the election will hold as set by the electoral bodies, vowing that no illegal amendment will stop the conduct of the elections.
Adhering to judgment
While commending Governor Siminalayi Fubara for adhering to the Supreme Court Judgement despite the provocations and betrayal of the peace accord by Wike, the Federal lawmakers thanked Nigerians who have stood in defence of democracy, urging them to be courageous on all issues for the advancement of democracy.
“It’s time for people to continue to stand firm. We are almost close to the end and that’s why you see more frustrations, more ranting, because the people are rising. We are happy to see that the NWC members are rising, our governors are rising to end this political madness.
“Let me at this junction commend one of the members of the opposition family, the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara. Despite the fact that the whole world knows, that the pro Wike lawmakers lost their seat at the time they decamped, everyone saw it, but the Supreme Court in their judgement said Governor Fubara should recognise these lawmakers that decamped from the party they were elected. Not everybody will have that courage or spirit of peace like Fubara. He surprised most of us. As a democrat he accepted that judgement wholeheartedly and started implementing immediately.
“The interest of Nyesom Wike is not about peace or progress, it’s about control. So all these litigations about local government or assembly members are all decoys to help him achieve his agenda which is crisis. Election has been fixed for August 9th. While the indigenes are preparing for elections that the Supreme Court ordered to be reconducted, the Wike group is running around looking for injunction to stop the conduct of the election.
“The election will hold, but it is important that I alert you, that they are running again to court, looking for injunction to stop a legitimate election that the Supreme Court ordered. They are running around in their hideout to amend the local government law in the middle of the election to get former local government chairmen who left years back to come back.
“We commend Governor Fubara for complying with the court judgement about budget presentation. He reached out to the House of Assembly members to come for a meeting, something that Wike will not do. He called them to a meeting for solutions to move forward but they boycotted the meeting and refused to come. Who are they?! The state will not burn and we won’t allow them destabilise the state that belongs to our party.
“The Governor again wrote a letter to you for presentation of Rivers State 2025 budget, it was delivered to them. He called the Speaker on the phone several times but he didn’t pick. That is to tell you that all they want is anarchy. They want Rivers people to suffer. Wike has been the aggressor from day 1” the coalition said.
They applauded Governor Fubara for his humility in ensuring that despite all the provocations, he has continued to run the wheel of governance for the last four days.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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