From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as reckless the declaration by the governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, that the Rivers State House of Assembly does not exist.
Ruling party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who chided the embattled governor, argued that Fubara’s claim is a direct affront to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Morka further dismissed as “hogwash argument” PDP tendering that by Section 109 of the Constitution, the 27 House of Assembly members who defected from PDP to APC have forfeited their seats.
“Contrary to PDP’s assertions, it is not APC that is calling for the impeachment of Governor Fubara. Rather, by his egregious actions, conduct and infantile comments, Fubara is actively and vehemently precipitating his own impeachment.
“Governor Fubara’s declaration that the Rivers State House of Assembly does not exist is not only reckless, it is a direct affront to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The House of Assembly is a creation of the Constitution, and vested with the legislative authority of the state.
“The members of the Assembly were elected by the good people of Rivers state in the same manner that Fubara was elected Governor. The Assembly does not exist at the Governor’s pleasure or fanciful whims.
“The legislature is at the core of the idea of democracy. It is co-equal with the executive and judicial arms of government. The constitutionally entrenched principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government guarantees essential checks and balances required to ensure observance of the rule of law.
“The rule of law is indispensable to democracy and constitutional order. If his declaration that the House of Assembly is nonexistent is based on the fact that the 27 members who decamped from PDP to APC have lost their seats, then Governor Fubara is sorely misled,” the ruling party quipped.
Reacting further, the national leadership noted: “Governor’s declaration flies in the face of a matter pending in court as instituted by some elders of the state on the very question of the legal status of the 27 members that decamped from PDP to APC. The court ruled that the plaintiffs in the matter lacked necessary _locus standi_ to bring the action.
“An appeal against that ruling remains pending in the Court of Appeal. Governor Fubara is a party to that suit. And there is the subsisting order of injunction issued by a Federal High Court restraining the Governor and his agents from impeding or frustrating the House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule.
“The Governor’s attack on the House of Assembly and its leadership is in flagrant disrespect of the order of a court of law and a violent violation of the express provisions of the Constitution. His demolition of the Rivers state House of Assembly complex remains one of the most brazen attacks on democratic institutions in our nation’s history.
“And there is now grave apprehension that he may be spoiling to demolish the House of Assembly residential quarters in Port Harcourt, built only two years ago, following his recent gestapo-like invasion of the Assembly quarters.
“Governor Fubara’s weaponization of demolition of public assets as a strategy to dislodge and punish legitimate members of the legislature is nothing short of petty despotism and must be roundly condemned,” Morka said.
