Archive March 9, 2025

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has invited the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers for a meeting.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at the Governor’s Office in the Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.

This was announced in a letter dated March 7 and obtained by Channels Television on Sunday.

READ ALSO: Fubara Orders Fresh LG Poll After S’Court Verdict

The letter was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo.

“I hereby write in furtherance of His Excellency’s promise stated in my letter dated 5th March 2025 to notify you that His Excellency has received the Supreme Court judgement, and has therefore directed me to invite you and your colleagues – the Honourable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, &nbsp, to a meeting”, the letter partly read.

According to the SSG, the planned meeting between the governor and the lawmakers would centre on the provision of a befitting place for assembly sittings, and payment of all outstanding remuneration or allowances of the Honourable members.

Others include the presentation of the budget and sundry matters as well as other matters aimed at charting a new way forward for the oil-rich state.

“Sequel to the above, I hereby humbly invite the Rt Hon Speaker, and all the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to a meeting with the Governor as follows:

” Monday, March 10, 2025. Time: 10 am, Venue: Office of the Governor, Government House, Port Harcourt.

“Many thanks, Sir as we look forward to your kind attendance with a view to charting the way forward in the interest of the good people of Rivers State”.

Earlier, the Rivers State House of Assembly had given an ultimatum to the governor to present the 2025 budget to the lawmakers. The 48-hour deadline ended on Friday, days after the Supreme Court recognized Amaewhule and other lawmakers as genuine members of the Rivers Assembly.

That decision was the culmination of a months-long debate over the status of the lawmakers who are loyal to a former governor of the state Nyesom Wike. But the apex court ruled that Amaewhule and co are members of the Assembly.

Fubara had late last year presented the 2025 budget to four lawmakers led by Victor Oko-Jumbo and signed it into law earlier in the year.

In this interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, the National Chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, speaks on the crisis rocking Rivers State as well as the recent Supreme Court judgement regarding the state, among other issues.

Excerpts:

What do you make of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s response to the recent Supreme Court decision on Rivers State?

The state is calm. This (the judgment) had long been expected. As a party, we did ask that the rule of law must be respected and that the rule of the law guarantees stability, peace, and development.

I don’t want to bore you with the challenges we had as a result of some of the overreaching decisions taken by the executive arm of the government in the state in trying to stop another arm of government, particularly the River Status Assembly under Martins Amaewhule. All that has now been put behind us as the Supreme Court had rightly intervened as it is expected.

So the state is happy, the citizens are calm, everybody is happy. Now we believe that the development of the state will be put forward and then we are happy to hear that the governor is going to implement without reservations, the decisions of the Supreme Court. That will help us continue our development in the state.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court Explains Restoration Of Amaewhule-Led Rivers Assembly

What would be your initial reaction to the governor’s response to this particular issue?

From the point of view of the Pan Delta Forum, the apex sociopolitical body in the South-South, we joint the governor to call for calm, particularly among our young people. Many people were surprised at the judgment, but then the Supreme Court has exercised its constitutional responsibilities. As a neutral arbiter, we will call all parties to observe the laws so that there can be amicable settlement of these issues. You’ve not asked me, but let me mention that PANDEF has been on the issue of peace outside the court process and when the opportunity comes, I’ll elaborate further on that.

What are you looking to get?

&nbsp, There’s a lot of dependence on federal allocations to run the whole process of governance, particularly social services, and we know that it’s not the first time it has happened in terms of judicial pronouncements in Nigeria, but we know that the Supreme Court has always been very careful.

It is in extreme cases that issues of withholding of allocations have been ruled upon. That is because it has a lot of implication as it affects the livelihood of the ordinary citizens. It could create a situation where the particular sub-national is not able to perform its duties and could create social upheaval, as hospitals need all forms of medication, even newborn babies need to be taken care of.

All the vulnerable need to be cared for, our schools, public sanitation and services. So anything that with-hold financial resources that goes to the states is a very serious matter, and we felt worried. There were a lot of calls and a lot of request on that, hence our appeal to the Supreme Court that when the opportunity creates itself, to look at this matter again.

If we look at the history of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, there have been cases where the court has had to look back, and regurgitate on some of its decisions, particularly where the overall social impact is pervasive and it is punitive.

River State is a very important state, being in the heart, we consider the capital of the South-South, and it is that of the oil belt which contributes significantly to the national income. Therefore, anything that creates social upheaval in Rivers State is of concern. That was the basis of our appeal, for some reversal and consideration of the matter.

What would you expect the governor to do as far as this issue is concerned?

I am from Bayelsa, but I’m also the leader of the Pan Delta Forum which is the apex body of the people of the Delta, and one of our main concerns is peace and stability in the region, like similar bodies such as Arewa, Ohanaeze Ndigbo or Afenifere. Under that platform, we’ve been working on the issue of peace. We are dispassionate, we don’t take sides on this matter. Our interest is to see that peace returns to River State.

Issues come up all over Nigeria and organisations like this come in to mediate, to arbitrate and to make peace. We have a committee of mediation, a committee of what we call peace and reconciliation in the Niger Delta led by seven very senior people, made up of seven senior people led by Obong Victor Attah, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, and the rest are three former governors and some very ranking politicians.

Let me mention they’ve achieved a lot of milestones. We’ve met with all the two sides and meetings are going on. We are hoping that by the end of the day, despite the judicial processes, we’ll have an amicable solution that will please everybody.

In this interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, the National Chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, speaks on the crisis rocking Rivers State as well as the recent Supreme Court judgement regarding the state, among other issues.

Excerpts:

What do you make of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s response to the recent Supreme Court decision on Rivers State?

The state is calm. This (the judgment) had long been expected. As a party, we did ask that the rule of law must be respected and that the rule of the law guarantees stability, peace, and development.

I don’t want to bore you with the challenges we had as a result of some of the overreaching decisions taken by the executive arm of the government in the state in trying to stop another arm of government, particularly the River Status Assembly under Martins Amaewhule. All that has now been put behind us as the Supreme Court had rightly intervened as it is expected.

So the state is happy, the citizens are calm, everybody is happy. Now we believe that the development of the state will be put forward and then we are happy to hear that the governor is going to implement without reservations, the decisions of the Supreme Court. That will help us continue our development in the state.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court Explains Restoration Of Amaewhule-Led Rivers Assembly

What would be your initial reaction to the governor’s response to this particular issue?

From the point of view of the Pan Delta Forum, the apex sociopolitical body in the South-South, we joint the governor to call for calm, particularly among our young people. Many people were surprised at the judgment, but then the Supreme Court has exercised its constitutional responsibilities. As a neutral arbiter, we will call all parties to observe the laws so that there can be amicable settlement of these issues. You’ve not asked me, but let me mention that PANDEF has been on the issue of peace outside the court process and when the opportunity comes, I’ll elaborate further on that.

What are you looking to get?

&nbsp, There’s a lot of dependence on federal allocations to run the whole process of governance, particularly social services, and we know that it’s not the first time it has happened in terms of judicial pronouncements in Nigeria, but we know that the Supreme Court has always been very careful.

It is in extreme cases that issues of withholding of allocations have been ruled upon. That is because it has a lot of implication as it affects the livelihood of the ordinary citizens. It could create a situation where the particular sub-national is not able to perform its duties and could create social upheaval, as hospitals need all forms of medication, even newborn babies need to be taken care of.

All the vulnerable need to be cared for, our schools, public sanitation and services. So anything that with-hold financial resources that goes to the states is a very serious matter, and we felt worried. There were a lot of calls and a lot of request on that, hence our appeal to the Supreme Court that when the opportunity creates itself, to look at this matter again.

If we look at the history of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, there have been cases where the court has had to look back, and regurgitate on some of its decisions, particularly where the overall social impact is pervasive and it is punitive.

River State is a very important state, being in the heart, we consider the capital of the South-South, and it is that of the oil belt which contributes significantly to the national income. Therefore, anything that creates social upheaval in Rivers State is of concern. That was the basis of our appeal, for some reversal and consideration of the matter.

What would you expect the governor to do as far as this issue is concerned?

I am from Bayelsa, but I’m also the leader of the Pan Delta Forum which is the apex body of the people of the Delta, and one of our main concerns is peace and stability in the region, like similar bodies such as Arewa, Ohanaeze Ndigbo or Afenifere. Under that platform, we’ve been working on the issue of peace. We are dispassionate, we don’t take sides on this matter. Our interest is to see that peace returns to River State.

Issues come up all over Nigeria and organisations like this come in to mediate, to arbitrate and to make peace. We have a committee of mediation, a committee of what we call peace and reconciliation in the Niger Delta led by seven very senior people, made up of seven senior people led by Obong Victor Attah, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, and the rest are three former governors and some very ranking politicians.

Let me mention they’ve achieved a lot of milestones. We’ve met with all the two sides and meetings are going on. We are hoping that by the end of the day, despite the judicial processes, we’ll have an amicable solution that will please everybody.

Pope Francis, who is responding well to treatment for pneumonia, thanked his doctors and healthcare workers Sunday as he missed delivering a fourth straight Angelus prayer in person.

The 88-year-old, in Rome’s Gemelli hospital since February 14, issued a written Angelus in which he thanked those who volunteer to help others in need, praising their “closeness and tenderness”.

“I too experience the thoughtfulness of service and the tenderness of care, in particular from the doctors and healthcare workers, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart”, he said.

“We need this, the ‘ miracle of tenderness ‘ which accompanies those who are in adversity, bringing a little light into the night of pain”, he said in the text published by the Vatican.

READ ALSO: Pope Francis Resting, Stable As Nears Three Weeks In Hospital

The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics has spent time at the Gemelli before, notably for colon surgery in 2021 and a hernia operation in 2023.

This hospitalisation has been more serious, however, with Francis suffering several respiratory crises, prompting fears the road to recovery would be long, or might force the elderly pontiff to resign.

On Saturday, the Vatican said the pope appeared finally to be responding well to treatment and had seen “a gradual, slight improvement”, marking several days without crises.

Though the pope does not have a fever, his doctors want to see the more positive results “in the coming days” before giving a prognosis, an evening medical bulletin said.

The next bulletin is expected Monday afternoon.

‘ Given so much ‘

Francis has been alternating rest, prayer and bits of work when he feels up to it.

On Sunday morning he received Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, and Edgar Pena Parra, a Venezuelan archbishop who is also a senior Vatican official.

People who gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, where Francis would usually stand at a Vatican window to read the Angelus to crowds below, said his presence was sorely missed.

“He is a wonderful person who has given so much and I hope that he can return as soon as possible”, said Diana Desiderio, who volunteers with the civil protection agency in Pescara.

She and fellow volunteers are praying that Francis will “return to the window again and bring peace and serenity to everyone, because we need it”, she told AFP.

The pope ended the Angelus with his traditional call for peace in conflicts, “in particular in tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo”.

He said he had “learned with concern of the resumption of violence in some areas of Syria: I hope that they cease definitively, with full respect for all ethnic and religious components of society”.

Catholics have also been gathering at the Gemelli hospital to pray for Francis or leave flowers, candles and cards.

Giuseppe Antonio Perazzo, 74, was at the hospital for the second Sunday in a row, dressed smartly in a suit and tie in the hope that the pontiff might appear at the window.

A sign he propped up in sight of the windows of the pope’s rooms urged the Argentine pontiff — a notoriously headstrong patient — to “keep doing what the doctors and nurses tell you to do”.