As Accountant-General, I Acted On Approvals, Have Nothing To Fear – Fubara

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fabura, says he acted based on approvals during his time as the accountant-general of Rivers State.

Fubara spoke on Tuesday while inaugurating Egbeda internal roads in the state.

Early this month, Fubara said a judicial panel of inquiry will be set up to investigate the management of the state’s resources and affairs under Nyesom Wike, his successor and current minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Fubara was the accountant-general under Wike. He was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in May 2022 over an alleged N435 billion fraud.

However, the governor said he has records of all his activities under the past administration in the state and is “not scared of anything”.

“What we bring to our people is service delivery at record time and cost-effective. Everything we are doing is in my white paper. I carry it along. There is no issue of any manipulation. Call me any day, any time it is there,” he said.

”Even the ones l did before this time, I still have all the records. If you call me any day, I will bring my records of all my activities in government. I know that, as a civil servant, what is most important is record-keeping.

“I am not scared of anything. Anybody who calls me up any day, any time, I have my records to show. I have all the approvals to show that I acted based on approvals and not personal decisions. We are not going to rest until we make everyone happy in Rivers state.”

Update: Rivers Lawmakers Withdraw Impeachment Notice Against Fubara

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn the impeachment notice that was previously sent to Governor SiminalayiG Fabura.

The lawmakers officially began their sessions in the state capital of Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The lawmakers gathered solely to focus on the withdrawal of the impeachment notice against Fubara during their deliberations.

HeadlMembers of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn the impeachment notice that was previously sent to Governor Siminalayi Fabura.

The lawmakers officially began their sessions in the state capital of Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The lawmakers gathered solely to focus on the withdrawal of the impeachment notice against Fubara during their deliberations.

This follows a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the warring parties in the Aso Villa in Abuja on Monday, where a truce was mediated.

TVC reports that the lawmakers announced their decision to withdraw in a notice read on the house floor, citing respect for the President as the reason behind their move.

The conflict between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, split lawmakers in the House, with 27 of them decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

In a series of events that unfolded during the feud, parallel sittings emerged, an impeachment plot against the governor was uncovered, the Assembly complex was demolished, and a wave of resignations swept through the cabinet of pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s commissioner.

Court Dissolves Parallel EXCOs of Rivers PDP, Questions Legitimacy of Governor-Elect Fubara's Candidacy

 

In a landmark ruling, the Abuja High Court has dissolved the parallel executive committees (EXCOs) of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. The court declared that the EXCOs responsible for nominating Siminialayi Fubara as the party's governorship candidate, in the primary were not the authentic EXCOs recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The case, with suit number W/6084, was brought before the court by Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo and Chief Abiye Davies, who represented the genuine state executive committee members of the Rivers PDP. The defendants named in the case were the PDP, along with Amb. Desmond Akawor and Dr. Benibo George, who were part of the parallel EXCOs falsely presenting themselves as the legitimate representatives, and INEC.

The court's decision has now raised doubts about the legitimacy of Siminialayi Fubara's candidacy and his subsequent victory in the March 18 governorship election. The entire process that led to his assumption of office as the Governor of Rivers State has been called into question.

The ruling of the Abuja High Court discrediting the parallel EXCOs has significant implications for the political landscape of Rivers State. Governor Nyesom Wike, who was believed to have been spurring and supporting the parallel EXCOs, may now face challenges regarding the validity of his actions and decisions.

Political analysts and legal experts have voiced concerns over the potential consequences of this judgment. They believe that if the EXCOs responsible for Fubara's nomination were indeed not the authentic representatives recognized by INEC, his candidacy could be considered illegitimate. This situation could potentially lead to legal disputes and a reevaluation of the governor-elect's tenure.

As the news of the court ruling spreads, stakeholders within the PDP and the wider political community are closely monitoring the developments. Many are eagerly awaiting further clarification on the implications for the Rivers State government.

The judgment of the Abuja High Court serves as a reminder of the critical role played by INEC in the electoral process and underscores the importance of adhering to due process and established guidelines in selecting candidates for public office. It remains to be seen how this ruling will impact the political landscape of Rivers State and what steps will be taken to address the concerns raised regarding the legitimacy of Governor-Elect Siminialayi Fubara's candidacy.