Invitation Letter: Pro-Wike Legislators Draw Battle Line Against Fubara
The Wike Generation Next declared that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martin Amaewhule, has not received any official correspondence from Governor Sim Fubara or the Government of Rivers State.
The Wike Generation Next said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara as head of the executive arm of government must know and understand what is standard protocol that must followed by according due respect to the Speaker who is the head of the Legislative arm of government.
It said that well-meaning Rivers’ people will know when Governor Fubara is ready for genuine initiatives that will move the state forward.
The group however said that they have taken note of a letter allegedly signed by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief Dr. Tammy Danagogo, dated March 7, 2025, which was later published on social media on March 9, 2025.
These were contained in s a statement by Okazu Powers, Leader of the Wike Generation Next, stating that there is no record of the letter being officially received by the Assembly as no acknowledgment copy was signed by the Speaker or the Clerk of the House, just as there was no proof of a formal correspondence with the Assembly.
Powers said that instead, the Rivers State Government claimed to have seen the Speaker’s initial letter only on social media after preventing the House’s logistics consultants from delivering it to the Government House in Port Harcourt.
In the words of Powers; “It is highly irregular and unacceptable that a government communication dated March 7, 2025, was withheld until Sunday, March 9, 2025, before being published on social media, seemingly for public theatrics rather than genuine governance.
“We find it absurd for the Governor to be communicating to the Rivers State House of Assembly through the office of the Secretary of the State Government. Governor Fubara is playing hide-and-seek game which is not necessary at this point,” it said.
Powers also said that the initial letter from the Assembly to the Governor which could have reopened the channel of communication between the Governor and the House, was rejected upon dispatch to the Rivers State Government House.
Powers said; “The date in question had already been set for a plenary session, during which the House expects the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd.), to appear before the House at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 10, 2025.
“This matter, among others, remains a priority for the Rivers State House of Assembly. The first issue raised in the government’s letter has already been conclusively addressed by the judgment of Justice J.K. Omotosho in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, which was upheld by the Supreme Court.
“The judgment affirms that the House of Assembly has the legal authority to conduct legislative business in any location it deems fit. This ruling follows the unconstitutional and undemocratic demolition of the Assembly Complex at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. As lawmakers, it is their duty to uphold the rule of law and resist executive overreach.
“The second issue in the letter is non-negotiable. By law, the Governor cannot access or spend a single kobo of Rivers State’s resources without first presenting a budget to the House of Assembly.
“The members of the Assembly, who have endured undue financial hardship and hunger for the past 12 months, will not be coerced into submission.
“Despite multiple court rulings affirming their rights, the Governor has deliberately refused to pay them. Due process must be followed, and the right thing must be done before any financial discussions can take place,” the statement insisted.
