The Rivers State Government has firmly rejected a directive from the Martin Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly, which demanded the immediate dismissal of all commissioners.
The Assembly had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, urging him to dissolve his cabinet and submit a new list of nominees for legislative screening.
However, the state government has dismissed the directive as unconstitutional and devoid of legal basis.
Commissioner for Environment, Sydney Tambari, criticized the lawmakers, asserting that they lack the authority to issue such an order. “I was screened by Edison Ehie, who was duly recognized by the court as Speaker of the House of Assembly. Before then, this group of people had defected from the PDP,” Tambari stated.
He argued that following Ehie’s resignation, his successor, Victor Oko-Jumbo, continued the screening process, thereby legitimizing all subsequent appointments. Tambari maintained that Governor Fubara is under no obligation to submit a new list of nominees.
“The governor cannot send any fresh list of nominees to this Assembly. Their demand for the sacking of the commissioners has been overtaken by events because all appointees were duly screened,” he emphasized.
Tambari also refuted claims that the Supreme Court ruling necessitates the removal of commissioners, clarifying that the judgment pertained solely to the 2025 budget presentation. “The Supreme Court talked about the budget, not about sacking commissioners. The presentation of the budget is at the discretion of the governor,” he asserted.
The escalating tensions between the executive and legislative branches underscore the deepening political crisis in Rivers State.
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