It is clear now that the silence in Rivers State political firmament is the silence of the graveyard. It is also important to know that ceasefire in any fight is not that war is over but a chance to work for resolution of the crisis, not to go to rest as it seems in the state.
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For anybody who does not understand what we are saying, Rivers State woke up few weeks ago to hear explosions of political crisis starting with burning the Chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) on a Sunday and impeachment notice by a group of lawmakers to the Governor, Sim Fubara by 25 lawmakers said to be loyal to former governor, Nyesom Wike. The governor moved to crush this and another lawmaker emerged as Speaker, leading eight others. Protests began on the streets and the governor said bullets were aimed at him. Some four persons were reportedly killed.
As more forces were getting ready the next day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an APC leader, moved swiftly to intervene in a PDP state. He asked both camps to return to status quo. This was obeyed.
Many observers however expected the peacemakers and elders to begin serious reconciliation work with the silence that emerged, but rather the ‘Elders’ of the state who happened to be PDP men loyal to Wike, met and blamed Fubara and asked him to restitute. While Fubara seemed to do that, Wike was on the loose, saying things that seemed to scare the feeble and issuing threats.
Now, the two lawmaker-camps seem to be back. The fracas started at the RSHA and there it has returned.
Now, Rivers lawmakers have held parallel sittings, and the police has taken over the Assembly complex. This may be to avert breakdown of law and order.
It was learnt that 25 lawmakers loyal to Martin Amaewhule-led speakership of the House of Assembly sat at the Assembly complex in the morning. Journalists were not allowed in.
The lawmakers also urged the Police to prosecute those behind the burning of the chamber.
Meanwhile, lawmakers loyal to the leader of the House who also claimed to be speaker, Edison Ehie, has passed a vote of confidence on the Governor of the State, Fubara.
It was learnt that the vote of confidence was made at a sitting presided over by Ehie.
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During the sitting, the lawmakers commended the governor and resolved to continuously support him to accomplish his consolidation and continuity agenda to the benefit of the State.
They further condemned the attack on the Speaker’s residence and the burning of the hallowed chamber of the State House of Assembly and appealed to the governor to commence the rehabilitation works as soon as possible.
