Worsening Tension: National Assembly Moves To Resolve Complex Challenges In Rivers State

Following what he described as the complex challenges facing the political leadership in Rivers State, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Abbas Tajudeen, has said that the National Assembly is to establish a high-level reconciliation committee to address the lingering political crisis in the State.

The conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), led to the declaration of a State of Emergency in the State and the suspension of Governor, his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.

Abbas, who announced this on Tuesday at the resumption of plenary after the Easter and Sallah recess, said a joint committee between the Senate and the House of Representatives shall be constituted to look into all areas of friction in the crisis.

The Speaker explained that the joint committee shall be made up of respected national figures that would be tasked with facilitating dialogue, promoting peace, and supporting the restoration of democratic order in Rivers State and other regions affected by conflict.

In the words of Abbas; “In the coming weeks, we shall work with the Senate to constitute a high-level Committee on reconciliation, comprising respected national figures, to facilitate dialogue, promote peace, and support the restoration of democratic order in Rivers State and other conflict-affected regions”.

It was gathered that members of the National Assembly are not comfortable with the way and manner the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibas is piloting the affairs of the Rivers State particularly with some of his activities that have further generated tention in the State which are considered as not in conformity with the mandate given to him as one who was expected to restore peace in the politically charged and troubled state.

The Senate and House of Reps had on Thursday, March 20, approved the proclamation of the State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through voice votes which a lot of prominent Nigerians and legal luminaries described as having violated the provisions of the Constitution that specifically prescribed two-thirds which cannot be determined by voice votes.

The House of Reps had earlier inaugurated a 21-member ad hoc committee led by the Leader of the House, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere to oversight the Sole Administrator of Rivers State which has already commenced consultaion with some key stakeholders.

Speaker Abbas emphasised the House’s commitment to its constitutional responsibilities for national stability, stressing that the reconciliation initiative was a response to the complex challenges facing the political leadership in Rivers State.