Fubara-Wike reconciliation: Rivers Assembly reverses decision on three lawmakers

The Rivers State House of Assembly has rescinded its earlier decision declaring the seats of three lawmakers representing the Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, and Ahoada West constituencies vacant, amid renewed reconciliation efforts between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

The decision was taken during the 68th legislative sitting of the fourth session of the 10th Assembly on Tuesday, following appeals by the affected lawmakers: Timothy Oruibienimigha, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and Sokari Goodboy Sokari.

The development comes a day after Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, led members of the Assembly—including its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule—and the 23 local government council chairmen to a meeting with Fubara at his private residence in Port Harcourt as part of efforts to sustain reconciliation between the two political camps.

The three lawmakers, who had remained outside the Assembly’s legislative arrangement amid the prolonged political crisis that rocked the state, appealed to the House to reconsider its earlier decision.

Reading their separate letters of appeal, Amaewhule said the lawmakers apologised for their prolonged absence from legislative sittings, explaining that they were unaware that their suspensions had been lifted following a presidential intervention in December 2023.

The lawmakers stated that they had not received correspondence notifying them of the lifting of their suspension on December 20, 2023.

During deliberations, members of the Assembly supported the appeals and called for the reversal of the earlier decision, paving the way for the affected legislators to return to their legislative responsibilities.

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Amaewhule, while commenting on the appeals, noted that investigations suggested the lawmakers might not have received the correspondence as claimed. He stressed, however, that the decision should be guided by justice and the law rather than emotion.

The members subsequently voted in favour of rescinding the decision, expressing their willingness to welcome their colleagues back to the Assembly to represent their constituencies.

The development marks a significant step amid ongoing efforts to resolve the political crisis that began in 2023 and strained relations between Fubara and Wike, which led to deep divisions within the state legislature.

Although details of the latest reconciliation meeting between the two political camps have not been made public, the Assembly’s decision represents fresh progress in bridging divisions among the state’s political leaders.