Political Tension in Rivers: Government Reacts to Assembly’s Sack Demand

The Rivers State HoRivers Government Reacts As Assembly Demands Sack Of Commissionersuse of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Siminialayi Fubara on Wednesday, demanding the dismissal of all commissioners and the submission of a new list of nominees for screening and appointment.

In a quick response, the state government dismissed the directive, labeling it as baseless and overreaching.

State Commissioner for Environment Sydney Tambari reacted to the ultimatum by accusing the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers of acting on a figment of their imagination and trying to exceed their constitutional authority.

Tambari emphasized that all serving commissioners had already undergone the necessary screening and confirmation by the legitimate leadership of the House, which was under former Speaker Edison Ehie, who now serves as the Chief of Staff to the Governor. He stated, “I was screened by Edison Ehie, who was duly recognized by the court as the Speaker of the House of Assembly. Before that, this group had defected from the PDP and gone elsewhere.”

Tambari further noted that after Ehie’s resignation, his successor, Victor Oko-Jumbo, also oversaw the screening and confirmation of additional commissioners and political appointees.

According to Tambari, “The governor cannot submit a new list of nominees to this Assembly. Their demand for the removal of the commissioners has been rendered moot because all appointees were duly screened.”

Tambari Critiques Lawmakers’ Interpretation of Supreme Court Ruling

Tambari also criticized the lawmakers for allegedly misinterpreting a Supreme Court ruling, arguing that it only pertained to the 2024 budget presentation and did not mandate the removal of commissioners or political appointees.

He stated, “The Supreme Court addressed the budget, not the dismissal of commissioners. The presentation of the budget is at the governor’s discretion, and this has already been overshadowed by events.”

Political tensions in Rivers State continue to escalate amid a growing rift between Governor Fubara and the pro-Wike lawmakers, who were previously removed after defecting from the PDP to the APC but were reinstated by the Supreme Court.