The Rivers State Government has accused the State House of Assembly of obstructing Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s efforts to implement the Supreme Court ruling regarding the state’s political crisis.
Joe Johnson, the Commissioner for Information, made this statement on Monday in response to comments made by the Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Information, Enemi Alabo-George, who had blamed Fubara for delaying the process.
Johnson explained that the Assembly has consistently ignored official communications from the governor, despite several attempts to engage with them. He pointed to video evidence showing the government’s efforts to deliver official documents, which were purposely disregarded by lawmakers.
Additionally, Johnson noted that some of these correspondences had been published in national newspapers. He further clarified that the government cannot provide acknowledgment copies of the letters, as requested by Alabo-George, because the Assembly had never received them.
Regarding the accusations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy, Johnson stated that the executive branch had not received any formal communication from the Assembly on the matter.
He reiterated that Fubara has always been committed to peace, citing his adherence to a court ruling that mandated the transition of power from elected local government chairmen to Heads of Local Government Administrations. The governor, he added, had also expressed his willingness to implement other directives from the apex bank once he receives the Certified True Copy of the judgment.
However, Johnson criticized the Assembly for responding with hostility, issuing ultimatums to both the governor and the state electoral commission. He described this as a deliberate attempt to create chaos and noted that legal experts had raised concerns about the legitimacy of these actions.
Johnson also condemned the Assembly’s recent call for an investigation into the Chief Judge, stating that their actions demonstrated a lack of focus on the state’s best interests. He argued that the lawmakers’ behavior had been self-serving from the start, rather than prioritizing good governance and the well-being of Rivers residents.
