The political tension in Rivers State has escalated as lawmakers loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have demanded the removal of 19 commissioners and political appointees, claiming they were not properly screened by the House of Assembly.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, who leads the pro-Wike faction, accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of making “illegal appointments” without legislative approval, in violation of the 1999 Constitution.
He also demanded a fresh list of nominees for screening and criticized the governor for failing to submit Dagogo Iboroma’s name for screening as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. The lawmakers gave the governor 48 hours to comply.
However, Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sydney Tambari, dismissed the lawmakers’ demands as baseless, insisting that all commissioners and political appointees were properly screened. He argued that the process was conducted by former Speaker Edison Ehie, who was recognized by the court, and later by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, who continued the screening after Ehie’s resignation.
“Their demand for the sacking of the commissioners has been overtaken by events because all the commissioners and political appointees were duly screened. The governor has no reason to send a fresh list to them,” Tambari said.
He also accused the lawmakers of misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the state budget, maintaining that “the presentation of the budget is at the discretion of the governor, which has since been overtaken by events.”
The development signals a deepening rift between Governor Fubara and pro-Wike lawmakers, further complicating the political landscape in the state.
