All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has aadebccused Governor Siminialayi Fubara of foot-dragging on the implementation of two key resolutions of the December 2023 agreement for ending the political crisis in the state.
Swiftly, the state’s Information and Communications Commissioner, Joe Johnson, accused Okocha of misleading the public. He wondered why he was fixated on the two resolutions.
Although the party admitted that Fubara had implemented six of the resolutions, it wondered why he left the two critical components of the pact—re-presentation of the state’s 2024 budget before the House of Assembly and the conduct of local government elections— unattended to.
The party’s Chairman, Tony Okocha, argued that by not fully honouring the agreement, the governor had unwittingly put the state on “a keg of gunpowder.”
Okocha, at the weekend, alleged that Fubara was being teleguided by a “purported elders forum’’ to deviate from implementing all the resolutions contained in the agreement.
He said it was hard to believe that a “career civil servant” who became a governor after the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike “sat on the noses of politicians and threw him up” has “reneged on agreements reached in the bedroom.”
He criticised the governor’s style of leadership, saying the APC might go to court to compel compliance with the agreement.
Okocha, who also represents Rivers State on the Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said that the continued delay in the full implantation of the pact was a disrespect to the President and other political actors.
The APC chairman recalled that: “When the matter reached a crescendo and was almost turning into an emergency, several calls were put across to President Tinubu to wade in.
“The President subsequently invited all the stakeholders from both sides and we had a very decent meeting devoid of intimidation, harassment, duress or undue advantage given to anyone.
“During the meeting, the President emphasised the importance of upholding democracy and opted for a diplomatic approach.
“Following the discussions, the President presented an eight-point proclamation document and handed it over to former Rivers Governor Peter Odili.
“At every point Odili read each point from the document, Tinubu interjected and asked if we were okay, and everybody echoed ‘yes.’
“After all parties agreed to the resolution, Governor Fubara, his deputy( Ngozi Odu), former Governor Nyesom Wike, myself, PDP chiefs in Rivers, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and Martins Amaewhule, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, all signed the document.”
The APC chieftain said after the agreement was signed, Fubara requested protection for his supporters against victimisation which was granted.
“The governor has implemented six resolutions, including withdrawing all cases before the courts, freeing the legislature, paying allowances due to lawmakers, and recognising Amaewhule as speaker.
“But, he has refused to implement two crucial agreements – the re-presentation of the state budget before the 27 lawmakers and the conduct of local government elections.”
Again the APC chairman recalled that the President informed Fubara that no other titles outside those recognised by the 1999 Constitution would be used for the leadership of local governments.
“Specifically, the President kicked against caretaker committees or sole administrators for the local government councils.
“So, Governor Fubara cannot, in his wildest imagination, continue to do as he pleases. He cannot continue to run the state without a budget.
“We will not stand aside and watch him violate the legal and constitutional agreement. We will not allow Fubara to disrespect the office of the President.
“Drafting a chairman or a sole administrator to oversee a local government is an aberration; only elected executives are recognised by law.
“Although no time frame was given for implementing the resolution, the governor cannot run the state without a budget.”
Okocha claimed that Fubara, who was “an unexpected candidate in the PDP primaries, rode to power on Wike’s support”
“The governor was not a politician but a career civil servant, but Wike sat on the noses of politicians and threw up Fubara who lacked political background.
“Nobody gives power for nothing without negotiating for something; Fubara has reneged on agreements reached in the bedroom.”
But Information and Communications Commissioner Johnson advised Okocha to focus on his duties at the NDDC.
His words: “The governor has recalled and redeployed the commissioners who resigned – that is even more important.
“Governor Fubara has also paid all the allowances owed to the 27 members of the State House Assembly.
“If the governor refused to release funds to the lawmakers but went ahead to represent a budget to them, which one, in Okocha’s priority, will be better?”
“The resolutions were agreed upon in December and, by February, the governor had implemented six out of the eight proclamations.
“The governor is acting on the resolutions step-by-step. Okocha should stop chasing shadows.”
