The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has escalated tensions with Governor Siminalayi Fubara by calling for the dismissal of 19 commissioners and political appointees.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule formally addressed the governor in a letter on Wednesday, insisting that the unscreened nominees be removed immediately.
According to Amaewhule, the governor’s unilateral appointments violate provisions of the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws. The letter demanded that the governor provide a fresh list of nominees within 48 hours for proper legislative screening.
Critics of the governor’s actions claim that bypassing parliamentary oversight undermines the checks and balances essential to good governance.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sydney Tambari, countered that the commissioners were previously vetted by former speakers and that the governor’s duty to resubmit names is unfounded. Tambari argued that the current demands are politically charged, noting that past screenings were validated by court decisions.
As the standoff deepens, questions arise regarding the balance of power in Rivers State and the potential for impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, intensifying the state’s political crisis.
