•Committee unnecessary, says don
•Sustain reconciliation efforts, Eradiri advises Fubara
The Nigerian Senate has constituted a 19-member committee to oversee the implementation of emergency rule in Rivers State, following the suspension of democratic governance in the state.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the committee during plenary yesterday, stating that the upper chamber was taking necessary steps to match the oversight mechanism already established by the House of Representatives.
According to Akpabio, the committee will be responsible for monitoring the activities of the appointed administrator of Rivers State, ensuring that the emergency governance structure operates within legal and constitutional bounds.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele was named as the Chairman of the committee, with Senator Rufai Hanga, Deputy Minority Whip, serving as Deputy Chairman.
Other members include Senators Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi), Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo), Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu), Kaka Shehu (APC, Borno Central), Iya Aminu Abbas (PDP, Adamawa), Tokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC, Ondo), Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger), Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau), Asuquo Ekpeyong (APC, Cross River), Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo), Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT), Onyekachi Nwaeboyi (APC, Ebonyi), Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos), Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta), Mohammed Malamadori (APC, Jigawa), and Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South).
MEANWHILE, a political sociologist and government studies expert at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Steven Wordu, has described, as unnecessary and redundant, the 19-man Senate committee to oversee activities of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd).
Criticising the move, Prof. Wordu said the actions and decisions of the Senate are contrary to the Constitution and perceived as not beneficial to many Rivers people but a few cabals.
The don said that Ibas acknowledged that he found peace in Rivers State immediately after he arrived in the state, after the declaration of the State of Emergency, stating that it was appropriate for him (Ibas) to report back to the government that the state is peaceful.
He pointed out that such a report would have ended all the unnecessary decisions by the Senate. Prof. Wordu noted that the disturbing issue is that Ibas’ activities are rather promoting agitation in the state, alleging that his actions are instigating violence in the state to be retained in the ‘illegal’ position he is occupying.
HOWEVER, former Bayelsa State Labour Party (LP) Governorship Candidate, Udengs Eradiri, has advised suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to sustain the ongoing reconciliation efforts in the state.
Eradiri commended Fubara for heeding his earlier advice to seek forgiveness from his estranged benefactor and predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, Eradiri urged Fubara to shut his doors against crisis merchants who are profiting from the ongoing political turmoil in the state, saying the individuals, especially those who claim to be the governor’s friends and advisors, are his enemies because they benefit from the crisis and would not want it to end.
The former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide also advised Fubara to re-establish his relationship with Wike and heed the directives of President Bola Tinubu in finding lasting political calm in the state.
Eradiri believes that if Fubara had implemented the earlier peace agreement crafted by Tinubu, he would have avoided the political turmoil that almost led to his impeachment.
