The opposition coalition of federal lawmakers known as the G-60 has strongly condemned the recent actions of the Rivers State House of Assembly in amending and passing the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into law, overriding the veto of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The development has sparked a political firestorm, with the G-60 accusing the Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, of engaging in “legislative rascality” and unconstitutional conduct.
In a scathing statement, the G-60 spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, described the passage of the amended bill as “unenforceable and an invitation to anarchy.” The group asserted that the Amaewhule-led Assembly is illegitimate and lacks the legal authority to enact, amend, or veto any law.
Ugochinyere questioned whether the lawmakers, who are loyalists of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, are seeking to destabilize Fubara’s government and breach the presidential peace accord. The federal lawmakers accused Amaewhule and his colleagues of entangling themselves in unconstitutionality, stating that the passage of the amended bill overriding the governor’s assent is an exercise in futility.
The G-60 has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest and prosecute the “decamped” Rivers lawmakers for “criminally tampering with Rivers LGA law.” The opposition coalition alleged that Amaewhule and his cohorts are on a “spree of amending several laws,” even though they are not legally recognized as lawmakers under Section 109(1g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The situation in Rivers State has escalated into a full-blown political crisis, with the G-60 accusing the Amaewhule-led Assembly of attempting to undermine the democratically elected governor and subvert the rule of law. The opposition group has vowed to challenge the Assembly’s actions through legal means and has called on relevant authorities to uphold the constitutionality of the state’s legislative processes.
As the standoff between the governor and the Assembly intensifies, concerns are mounting about the potential implications for governance and the delivery of essential services to the people of Rivers State. The coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining whether a resolution can be reached or if the crisis will deepen further, potentially plunging the state into a prolonged period of political instability.
Reference
Legislative Rascality Taken Too Far’, G-60 Reps Reject Overriding Of Fubara published in Daily trust by daily trust