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Pro-Wike lawmakers sack all Rivers commissioners and political appointees

The political crisis in Rivers State has deepened as the House of Assembly, controlled by allies of Minister Nyesom Wike, issued a letter to Governor Siminalayi Fubara demanding the removal of 19 commissioners and political appointees they claim were not screened by the Assembly. Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule also called for a fresh list of nominees for screening, accusing the governor of making “illegal appointments” without legislative approval, in violation of the 1999 Constitution.

The Speaker expressed dissatisfaction with the governor’s failure to submit Dagogo Iboroma’s name for screening as Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, arguing that it contravenes constitutional provisions. The letter gave the governor 48 hours to comply.

Hon. Sydney Tambari, the Commissioner for Environment, dismissed the lawmakers’ demands, calling their actions baseless. “I was screened by Edison Ehie who was duly recognized by the Court as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly. Before then, this group of people had defected from the PDP and went to wherever they went to,” he said.

He further stated that following Ehie’s resignation, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo took over as Speaker and continued the screening process. “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 list of nominees to them.”

Tambari also accused the lawmakers of misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the state budget. “The presentation of the budget is at the discretion of the Governor, which has since been overtaken by events,” he said.