- Says We Are Not Deterred, No Matter How Difficult’
- Pro Fubara’s Legislators Head To Supreme Court
- We Strongly Believe That Court Of Appeal Was In Error-Oko-Jumbo
Over 24 hours after Federal Capital Minister, Nyesom Wike appeared to have landed a knockout blow on his political mentee and Godson, the incumbent River State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor has finally broken his silence,
The Matrix reports that the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday nullified an order of a Rivers High Court which stopped Martin Amaewhule and 24 others from parading themselves as lawmakers of the State Assembly.
Reacting to the ruling on Friday during an inspection of the reconstruction of the Zonal Hospital project in Bori Town, the headquarters of the Khana Local Government Area of the state, Fubara said there is no cause to worry.
He disclosed that he is not deterred by the appellate court’s decision on the assembly crisis.
“I want to assure every one of you and the good people of Rivers State, that we are not deterred. We have made our promises, we will continue to give you good governance, no matter how difficult it is,” he said.
Continuing, Fubara said the worst is over, saying he has moved on to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State.
“But, like I said before, the worst is over. We are moving on to ensure that we continue to provide what is needed for the development of our state.
“I know that a lot of you will be wondering what is going on and all that. Government has its own challenges. If you go to the book of Psalm 23 verse 5, in the Bible, it said that God prepares a table before you; it can be before anybody. But there is an underlined word that should be noted here: it said ‘in the presence of your enemies’. So, it means that nothing comes easy.”
Noting that every government has its challenges, Fubara said that the present situation will not deter him from delivering his campaign promises.
Fubara explained that his administration did not meet any functional Zonal Hospital, stressing that because it wanted quality healthcare facilities for the people, funds were released about a month ago for the reconstruction and expansion of four zonal hospitals.
He also expressed satisfaction that the contractors appeared committed and had shown that they understood the dream and aspirations of his administration, and were aligning to help it fulfil promises to the people.
“You could remember that I did promise our people that one of the most important areas our budget for the year 2025 will focus on is healthcare, education and agriculture.
“As part of what we did promise our people in the year 2024, that all the Zonal Hospitals, we will do our best to ensure that they come up and are put to use, we are here to inspect the extent of work that is ongoing.
“When we met them (hospitals), their conditions were really bad. There was no accommodation for the medical officers, the doctors, the nurses, and we also added a mortuary to have a full package of what a hospital should be,” he added.
The governor assured that when completed and put to use, the facilities will meet the healthcare needs of the people within the catchment areas, and address key issues in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and policy objectives of his administration.
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Fubara was accompanied on the inspection tour by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Ore; the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Victor Kii, while the Chairman, the Caretaker Committee of the Council, Marvin Yobana was on the ground to receive him and his team.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo has posited that the Appeal Court erred in its decision to nullify the expulsion of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others from the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Rivers State High Court.
Consequently, he disclosed that it will challenge Thursday’s decision of the Appeal Court on the assembly crisis at the Supreme Court.
Oko-Jumbo made this known in his opening remark during a plenary held on Friday morning.
“As the Whole World knows, on the 11th day of December, 2023, Martin Amaewhule and his 24 friends defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress.
On the 13th Day of December 2023 Rt. Hon Edison Ehie as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly declared the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others in the RSHA Vacant.
That the declaration by Rt. Hon Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any Court in Nigeria.
When Martin Ameawhule and the 24 others in spite of their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC and their seats being declared Vacant, continued to parade as members of the RSHA, the legitimate members of RSHA filed suit no PHC/1512/CS/2024 against Martin Amaewhule & 24 others in the High Court of Rivers State, where the Court Made orders restraining Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS
Dissatisfied with the rulings of the Rivers State High Court in suit No PHC/ 1512/CS/2024, Martins Amaewhule & 24 ORS filed Appeal No. CA/PH/198/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.
Yesterday, the 4th of July, 2024, the Court of Appeal in its lead Judgement allowed the Appeal by Martin Ameawhule & 24 ORS on the ground that the Rivers State High Court lacked the Jurisdiction to hear and determine the case. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal struck out suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024 and NOTHING MORE.
The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS did not defect from the PDP to APC.
The Court of Appeal also did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule 24 ORS are still members of the RSHA.
READ ALSO: ‘You Made A Mistake’- Oko-Jumbo-Led Rivers Assembly Vows To Challenge Appeal Court Decision
We strongly believe that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the Jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO PHC/1512/CS/2024. Accordingly, we have instructed our lawyers and they have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria Challenging the Judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 4th Day of July, 2024.
There cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or Indeed any State in Nigeria. This House of Assembly with me as the Speaker is the ONLY House of Assembly in Rivers State.
Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS in spite of all their pretences are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and they remain so until a Court of Competent Jurisdiction says otherwise.
Once again, we the legitimate Members of the RSHA HEREBY call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to promptly conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seats in the RSHA.
We strongly urge the general public to ignore Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS in their pretence that they are members of the Rivers State House of Assembly” he said.
