Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and minister of FCT Nyesom Wike have reached a resolution after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa on Monday.
The meeting had Vice President Kashim Shettima; the chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila; national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; former governor of Rivers State Peter Odili and some traditional rulers from the state.
The state is embroiled in a political crisis, following estrangement between Messrs Fubara and Wike.
The crisis led to the impeachment moves against the governor and defection of 27 members of State House of Assembly from PDP to APC.
The crisis also saw the emergence of parallel sittings, the demolition of the Assembly complex, and resignations of pro-Wike commissioners.
Key Points of the Resolution:
1. Governor Fubara and his allies will withdraw all court cases related to the crisis.
2. The State House of Assembly will drop impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.
3. The leadership of the House, under Speaker Martin Amaewhule, a Wike loyalist, will be recognized, along with the 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party.
4. Governor Fubara will re-present the 2024 budget to the Amaewhule-led Assembly.
5. Salaries and benefits for all Assembly members and staff will be restored
6. The Assembly will have autonomy to choose its location and conduct business without interference from the Executive
7. The Governor will resubmit the names of resigned commissioners for approval
8. The dissolution of local governments is declared null and void.
This resolution marks a significant step towards de-escalating the tension in Rivers State. The willingness of both factions to compromise and adhere to the agreement is crucial for restoring normalcy and stability to the region.