Members of the suspended Rivers House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, have delivered a letter to their constituents after President Bola Tinubu suspended all elected officials in the state on Tuesday.
Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency means that lawmakers will be absent from their legislative duties during the six-month period specified by the President.
In a statement signed by Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on behalf of Rivers State House of Assembly members, the lawmakers notified their citizens of the current situation while supporting the President’s actions.
The 27 lawmakers led by Amaewhule blamed the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for the condition of Rivers State today, accusing him of continually disobeying judgments and orders of the courts, failing to govern the state in line with his oath of office and the Constitution.
“The governor’s despotic and tyrannical actions, as confirmed by the courts, in which he also unconstitutionally obstructed the Rivers State House of Assembly—an arm of government—from functioning, underlie this situation,” the statement said.
As an Assembly, we assure you all, our constituents, that we will abide by this declaration even though it is not what we prayed for.
“Mr President has acted in the best interest of the country; therefore, we call on you all to remain calm as the Sole Administrator appointed by the President assumes his duty in the best interest of our State and Nation.
“Rest assured that we will give any kind of support required of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the Sole Administrator in the best interest of our dear state.”
