A former special adviser to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Opunabo Inko Tariah, has spoken out on the controversial matter of the assembly members of Rivers State being reliant on the support of Governor Sim Fubara. He said the 27 legislators are really at the governor's mercy.
He went on to say that members of the House of Assembly lose their seats when they defect from one political party to another, as is required by law. He said that the governor of Rivers State decided not to suit the lawmakers who defected after meeting with the president, a sign of peace and reconciliation, despite the legal ramifications. He bemoaned the MPs' choice to act outside their jurisdiction, suggesting that their activities went beyond what was originally mandated.
Just recently, Governor Fubara denied the existence of the members of the Rivers State Assembly. In order to provide them with a floating, he claimed to have embraced the president's peace deal. His main point was that the peace treaty was just a political fix and not a constitutional one. Fubara maintained that he has not de-recognized the state assembly, which is why he is allowing them to exist.
He said in an interview with Arise TV, ''I have listened to the argument on the issue of the House of Assembly members being at the governor's mercy. I can authoritatively say that the 27 lawmakers are at the governor's mercy. Why did I say that? We had a matter in court where the legality of the assembly members was being questioned having defected to APC. And we all know that once you defect from a political party, you have lost your seat as a member of the House of Assembly.
In the spirit of peace and reconciliation, the governor of Rivers State after meeting with the President decided not to serve a coercive legal machinery against these persons. However, the governor is saying that he will not follow the things in that resolution. But unfortunately, the lawmakers have decided to exceed their brief.''
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