Rivers’ lawmakers reject Fubara’s invitation for talks, give only condition to meet him

• Fubara had extended an olive branch to the lawmakers by inviting them to a meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last week.

We may not be hearing the last of the political crisis bedeviling Rivers State anytime soon following the refusal of the State House of Assembly to honour an invitation by the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

It would be recalled that Fubara, in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, extended an olive branch to the lawmakers by inviting them to a meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday.

The Governor’s invitation came after the ruling of the Supreme Court that reinstated the 27 lawmakers led by the speaker, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.

The 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike had upon the resumption of plenary after the apex court ruling, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the governor to re-present the 2025 budget and also to sack all his commissioners

The governor’s invitation ignited hope that the nearly two-year political imbroglio in the state was finally coming to an end.

But in their reaction to the invitation, the lawmakers asked the governor to stay in his lane while they stay in theirs, an indication that the legislators are not ready to embrace the governor’s reconciliation efforts.

A member of the assembly, Lolo Isaiah Opuende, stated in a video clip that circulated on Sunday night that it was time for the governor to “dey his dey” (be on his own) while the lawmakers would do the same.

The lawmaker representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, recalled that when the political crisis began, their principal had foreseen that a time would come for both sides to go their separate ways.

Opuende also questioned the mode of invitation transmission, telling Governor Fubara, “how can you write a letter and post it on social media and expect us to honour it? We are not kids”.

He, however, said if Fubara wants his invitation honoured, he “should write us the proper way”.