The legitimate House under the leadership of Victor Oko-Jumbo is the only one recognised by law and the Rivers State Government.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Rivers State House of Assembly has dismissed the resolution passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly which barred Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state government from withdrawing money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.
Oko-Jumbo faction is loyal to the Gov. Fubara, while the Amaewhule group is on the side of the immediate past Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike.
The Amaewhule-led House on Monday passed a resolution restraining Fubara from authorising withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State until an Appropriation Bill for the 2024 fiscal year is presented to it for consideration.
But in a statement issued by the factional Clerk of the state Assembly loyal to Fubara, G. M. Gillis-West, on Tuesday. July 16, 2024, quoted Oko-Jumbo as restating that Amaewhule and other lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), have lost their seats, thereby invalidating their resolution.
He recalled that the defectors’ seats was declared vacant on December 13, 2023, by the former Speaker of the assembly, Edison Ehie.
The statement quoted Oko-Jumbo thus, “The House states as follows: On December 11, 2023, at the 87th Legislative sitting of the House, former Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and the 24 former members defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
“By virtue of Section 109(1) (g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which are self-executing, and consequent upon their defection, on December 13, 2023, . Edison Ogerenye Ehie, as the then duly recognised Speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, by virtue of a court order granted Justice Danagogo on December 12, 2023, in Suit No. PHC/3030/CS/2023, and pursuant to Section 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, declared their seats vacant.”
“Consequent upon constitutional provisions and the declaration of their seats vacant, the recognised 10th Rivers State House of Assembly is the one led by Victor Oko-Jumbo. Thus, the Rivers State Government has ceased paying any form of salaries, allowances or statutory remunerations to the former members.
“The 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, which is the legitimate House under the leadership of Victor Oko-Jumbo is the only one recognised by law and the Rivers State Government, and thus, has been receiving all statutory allocations due the House of Assembly.
“And has been discharging its financial obligations by paying the salaries of the recognised members of the House, their aides, and allowances of the public servants in the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the statement added.
Oko-Jumbo added, “May I remind the defected members that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of the then Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie.
“It was duly passed on December 13, 2023, and assented to on December 14, 2023.”