Rivers Assembly overrides Fubara’s assent to four bills

The faceoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is far from being over as the House on Friday overrode the assent of the governor to four bills which were earlier passed and sent to him for assent.

The House took the decision to override the governor’s assent during its 99th Legislative Sitting at the Assembly quarters along Aba Road on Friday.

This was contained in a statement issued by Martins Wachukwu, media aide to the Speaker of the State Assembly and sent to newsmen.

The statement indicated that the lawmakers took the decision after the governor withheld his assent to the four bills via letters to the House, which were read on the floor of the House, stating that such amendments would create confusion and breach constitutional provisions.

Remarking on the Rivers State House of Assembly Fund Management Bill, which was presented afresh by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and debated by members, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, cited Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered, which empowers the House to override the Governor, where the Governor withholds his assent.

“The Speaker then put the question and the 24 members present at the sitting unanimously agreed to override the governor.

In like manner, the Rivers State Local Government Law (Amendment) Bill, the Rivers State Traditional Rulers’ Law (Amendment) Bill, and the Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-owned Property Prohibition (Repeal) Bill were all represented, debated, and voted upon with a unanimous decision to override the governor’s assent.

Speaking on the decision of the House on the Bills, the Speaker, Amaewhule emphasised that reason adduced by the governor for withholding assent on the Local Government Amendment Bill appears to be anticipatory and tailored toward creating a situation that would make holding of election in the state impracticable, because the amendment curtailed the powers of the governor in suspending local government council chairmen and appointment of caretaker committees.