• Falana: 25 lawmakers who defected have lost their seats
CHIGOZIE AMADI
As the political crisis in Rivers State simmers, the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, appears set to play his strongest card in the worsening faceoff with his predecessor and estranged benefactor, Nyesom Wike: state power.
Fubara went straight for the jugular, declaring plans to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of government, and how it was conducted before he assumed office. He, apparently, referred to the administration of the immediate past governor, Wike, under whom he was Accountant-General of Rivers State.
The governor made the disclosure yesterday during the swearing-in of Dagogo Iboroma, a Senior Advocate Nigeria (SAN), as the new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
Speaking at the ceremony, held at Government House, Port Harcourt, Fubara said he was bringing the attorney-general on board at a critical time when there were lots of legal matters that needed to be tackled with bravery.
He stated, “So, my brother, Dagogo Iboroma, you are going to be the brand new Attorney-General of our dear state. SSG, give him his letter, he is the Attorney-General.
“Why are we bringing you at this very critical time? We have a lot of issues around us. We believe that you are not going to be the one that when they send service to you, you go and file ‘nolle prosequi’ or you go and file one thing that would kill us here.
“Let me also say this, you have a big task. We will be setting up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of governance. So, brace up, I am not going back on it.
“Please, defend us. We know that you are going to defend us because your record is clean. You are a gentleman and peaceful. You are not a noisemaker. People like you are endowed, and they have the fear of God.”
Fubara reiterated that he had thought the political crisis he considered a family affair had been resolved, but, regrettably, there had been no headway out of it.
He emphasised that though it was unfortunate, his administration had moved forward because there was now a well-constituted House of Assembly to discharge legislative duties, and a seasoned lawyer appointed as Attorney-General of the State.
He said, “I am happy that this is happening today to mark the beginning of a new era in our administration. When I said that I had a reason for being patient, it is because I know that we are all from one family. And if we have a disagreement, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved amicably.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement, there is no way to resolve it amicably. And for a lot of reasons, there are visible evidence that there is sabotage, deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“For that reason, we have to move forward. And, moving forward, if it means taking decisions that are going to hurt anybody, we are not going back on the protection of the interest of Rivers people.”
An advocate for resource control and good governance in the Niger Delta, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, congratulated Fubara on his one year as governor.
Dokubo said, “Governor Fubara’s leadership has been characterised by patience, wisdom, and a commitment to peace, key components in resolving conflicts and promoting unity in Rivers State.”
He stressed that with the governor leading the way, there was hope for a future of growth and development, free from division and discord.
Similarly, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly under former Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Hon. Leyii Kwane, commended Fubara for the appointment of Iboroma as justice commissioner.
Kwane also commended the governor for taking a crucial step towards restoring stability in the state’s governance by the choice of Iboroma, who was screened by the Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo-led legislature.
