Pegasus Reporters Issues on the Wing
“Strengthening it further, their godfather, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on whose behest this rather contemptuous move was made is not only a lawyer but has also said it at different fora that you cannot leave a party under which you contested an election and won for another party and still retain your seat in the House.”
*Mr. Dele Obamodi
PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | DECEMBER 22, 2023
As lawmakers, it is right to assume that when it comes to matters of the law and indeed constitutionality, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are in the best position to know and interpret the law correctly. So, when on Monday 11th, December 2023, twenty-seven or is it twenty-five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly dumped the party under which they were elected into the House to join the opposition APC, they must believe they are acting within the ambit of the law and are indeed protected by the constitution.
Strengthening it further, their godfather, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on whose behest this rather contemptuous move was made is not only a lawyer but has also said it at different fora that you cannot leave a party under which you contested an election and won for another party and still retain your seat in the House. That seat must be vacated. This is manifestly so having recourse to section 109 (1) (G) of the 1999 constitution as amended. The Supreme Court also further elucidated it with their judgement in the case involving Abegunde vs Ondo State House of Assembly (2015).
*Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja
With all these in public knowledge, why did the lawmakers still go on to declare for APC knowing the implications and the possibility of them losing their seats in the House. The fallout has been an uproar and a deluge of criticism from many quarters that the Constitution is unambiguously clear on this and must be obeyed. Could it be the realization of this that made President Bola Tinubu surreptitiously provide the lawmakers a soft landing by way of a skewed agreement under the guise of a political solution?
It will not be too far-fetched to conclude that because they know we have a highly corrupt, compromised, and complicit judiciary, they could get away with murder. Already, it is playing out true to type with the ‘jankara’ conflicting judgements and pronouncements coming out from courts of coordinate jurisdiction. As usual with us, a clear and simple constitutional matter is being turned on its head by people who have thrown their conscience to the dogs because of pecuniary gains.
*Governor Amaopusenibo Siminalayi Joseph Fubara of Rivers State
The tragedy of the whole godfather and godson imbroglio between Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been the mockery of our constitution. If what we are hearing is true, President Tinubu’s supposed peace initiative is nothing short of outright blackmail and intimidation of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Fubara, as we heard, was completely browbeaten and harangued into submission. Like Fela would say, dem open book for am. Seeing the handwriting on the wall, he quickly threw in the gauntlet and began preaching rapprochement and peace. One thing is clear, they all have skeletons in their cupboard.
A few weeks ago, it was Ondo State in the news. Governor Rotimi Akeredolu refused to hand over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa when irrefutable evidence showed clearly that he is medically incapacitated and cannot perform his duty as Governor of the state. We know the politics that played out before sanity prevailed. Today, it is the turn of Rivers State and the same absurdity is playing out. Why is it difficult for our politicians to play by the rules and let the letter and spirit of the Constitution guide their conduct?
*Ondo State Gov. H.E. Arakunri Olurotimi Akeredolu (Aketi)
At every opportunity we have had to either deepen our democracy, infuse discipline and sanity into our politicians to do what is right or restore and rekindle our hope and confidence in the judiciary have all been brazenly and unabashedly truncated by these same crops of unconscionable politicians to whom much is expected.
While we wait for the next absurdity to break…
Who will save Nigeria?
Dele Obamodi, a political analyst and social critic wrote from the USA
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