According to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Paul Ananaba the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, did not break any laws when he went to the state House of Assembly quarters unannounced.
Fubara dropped by the residence of members of the legislative assembly under Martin Amaewhule’s leadership.
Different lawmakers have responded to this, though, claiming that he visited the state house of Assemby without warning and with hidden agendas. Ananaba countered that none of the laws of the nation were broken by Fubara’s presence.
In an interview with Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, he maintained that Fubara is not prohibited by law from accessing the state House of Assembly quarters.
“That facility is a government facility. I don’t know anything in the law that stops the governor from going to visit the residential quarters,” he stated.
Ananaba stated that although Fubara’s visit caused controversy among interested parties and that some lawmakers believed the governor of Rivers State had a hidden agenda, Fubara did not break any national laws.
He said, “That facility is a government facility. I don’t know anything in the law that stops the governor from going to visit the residential quarters.”
Fubara’s visit was allegedly a part of the governor’s plan to destroy the assembly quarters, according to Amaewhule, the speaker of a group of lawmakers.
He claimed that Fubara had disregarded a court ruling, arguing that the quarters were in good structural condition and didn’t need to be renovated.
It was mentioned by Amaewhule that the governor was not invited for a visit. Ananaba reassured Amaewhule in spite of his worries.
“The problem arises when the witch cries in the night and a child dies in the morning; there’s always the suspicion that the witch caused the child’s death.”
“I know that on a good day that [Fubara’s visit] would not have been an issue. The speaker is just entertaining some fears and I am sure the governor will not go to demolish [the structure]. If he demolishes, it is Rivers’ money he would use,” he stated.
As for the conflict between Fubara and the lawmakers, Ananaba blamed it on a lack of political identity.
Some lawmakers vowed not to rest after Fubara’s visit, and some have reportedly started to evacuate their detached duplexes for fear of demolition. Later today, Amaewhule will hold a briefing about the situation.
Fubara went to the Assembly Residential Quarters on Thursday, where legislators led by Martin the Amaewhule convened to discuss legislative matters.
The governor explained that he was there to conduct an on-the-spot evaluation of the structures’ state in order to determine whether rehabilitation work could be done to bring them back to full status and make them livable.
