By Abiola Olawale
The political crisis rocking Rivers State has continued to take dramatic twists and turns as Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the state has gazetted Executive Order 001 relocating the House of Assembly to the Auditorium, Admin Block of the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The gazette dated December 14th, 2023, hinged the decision for the relocation on the burning of the Hallowed Chamber of the House of Assembly on October 29th, 2023.
Fubara said the current state of the chamber was unsafe and constituted a threat to the lives of the staff and members of the House of Assembly.
According to the governor, the lawmakers will now have their proceedings at the auditorium, Admin Block, Government House until repairs, renovation, and reconstruction of the burnt and damaged chambers of the House of Assembly are concluded.
He added that it was reasonable to ensure that the proceedings of the House of Assembly were not impeded and frustrated.
He said: “Now, therefore, I, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, this 30th Day of October 2023, pursuant to the powers vested in me under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria hereby issue, an order and direct that all proceedings and business of the Rivers State House of Assembly shall temporarily take place at the auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt, until the repairs, renovation and reconstruction of the chambers of Rivers State House of Assembly”.
The New Diplomat recalls that this comes amid the impeachment plot against Fubara. Over the past few days, there have been threats from the lawmakers of the state house of assembly about commencing the impeachment process.
The governor had been at loggerheads with his predecessor, the current Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, which had escalated into a full-blown political crisis.
