The Police Command in Rivers has explained why it deployed about 30 armed policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers to the residential quarters of members of the state House of Assembly in Port Harcourt.

The deployment has heightened political tension in the state amidst face-off between some lawmakers and the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The factional Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, has alleged that the governor was plotting to demolish the houses, a claim dismissed by Fubara.

The governor had visited the residential quarters on Wednesday, during which he told journalists that he was there for an on-the-spot assessment of the condition of the houses for possible rehabilitation.

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the state All Progressive Congress, Tony Okocha, recently urged the lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor.

The Police Command, however, said that the deployment of personnel to the assembly quarters was for the purpose of upholding peace, not partisan interest.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the command spokesperson, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said that the recent political developments prompted the deployment.

“Our deployment in the area is solely aimed at ensuring peace and preventing any possible breakdown of order.

“We assure the public that there is no cause for alarm and all individuals are encouraged to carry on with their lawful activities without fear.

“Cooperation from the public is greatly appreciated as the police command strives to maintain a safe and secure environment for all,” she stated.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state has gazetted an executive order moving the sitting of the state house assembly to the government house.

The executive order 001 is dated October 30, 2023.

The governor said the sitting of the state parliament will henceforth take place at the government house until the assembly complex, which was affected by fire in October, is renovated.

“That on the 29th day of October 2023, a fire incident occasioned by unknown persons burned and damaged the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the gazette reads.

“That the Hallowed Chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly in its present state is unsafe and constitutes a threat to the lives of the staff and the Honourable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and thus not conducive for the business and proceeding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“That it is expedient to carry out urgent repairs, renovation, and reconstruction of the burnt and damaged chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“That it is further reasonable to ensure that the business and proceedings of the Rivers State House of Assembly are not impeded and frustrated.

“Now therefore, I, sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State this 30th day of October 2023, pursuant to the powers vested in me under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) hereby issue, order, and direct that all proceedings and business of Rivers State House of Assembly shall temporarily take place at the Auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt until the repairs, renovation or reconstruction of the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly are completed.”

The gazetting of the order comes in the wake of a renewed political crisis in the oil-rich state.

THE CRISIS

The Rivers house of assembly has been polarised since 2023 following the rift between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

In December, 27 members of the assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Rivers assembly has 32 seats. One lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, died in September 2023.

In October 2023, Ehie Edison was elected speaker of the factional assembly, after his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule — amid the plot to impeach Fubara.

Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become chief of staff to the governor.

The lawmakers in the Amaewhule-led faction are loyal to Wike.

The political crisis took a new twist on Wednesday after Victor Jumbo, a lawmaker representing the Bonny state constituency, was elected factional speaker.

On Friday, a state high court in Port Harcourt granted an interim injunction restraining Amaewhule from acting as a speaker of the Rivers assembly.

Charles Wali, the presiding judge, also restrained 25 other assembly members from parading themselves as legislators.

The motion ex parte was filed by Jumbo and two assembly members — Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy — loyal to Fubara.

There are rumours that Fubara is plotting to demolish the state assembly quarters in Port Harcourt.

Amid the speculations, some armed police officers on Friday barricaded the two entrances to the assembly quarters.

1. The police authorities yesterday deployed about 30 armed policemen to protect the official quarters of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Aba Road, Port Harcourt. The move was apparently in response to an allegation by the pro-Wike factional Speaker of the House Martins Amaewhule, that the complex had been penciled down for demolition by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

2. Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, counsel to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Friday, promised to produce his client before the Federal High Court on June 13 for arraignment in respect of the 19-count charge money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

3. The Nigerian Army yesterday pulled out 29 Generals of the Infantry Corps who retired from active military service. Out of the 29 retired infantry officers pulled out of active service at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State, 19 were Major-Generals and 10 Brigadiers-General.

4. Bandits have attacked two farming communities in Zamfara State where they killed at least 30 farmers, including a respected Islamic cleric. And elsewhere in Plateau, two herders and over 200 cattle were killed. Police Spokesman in Zamfara, ASP Yazid Abu Abubakar, confirmed the attacks on two local government areas of the state, but said details would be given later.

5. Naira has dipped from the best to the worst performing currency, according to a new Bloomberg report. This is a reversal in its recent gains, emerging as the world’s worst-performing currency after a wonderful performance last month.

6. Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has gazetted the Executive Order relocating the House of Assembly to the Auditorium, Admin Block of the Government House, Port Harcourt. Dated December 14, 2023, the document cited burning of the chamber of the House of Assembly as reason for the relocation.

7. Following protests by some Civil Society Organisations in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Daniel Ojukwu, who was arrested by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police has regained freedom. Ojukwu regained freedom on Friday after 10 days in police captivity.

8. The National Identity Management Commission on Friday said it has uncovered a syndicate of individuals posing as employees of the commission and issuing fake national identity numbers to unsuspecting Nigerians. It said some suspects have been arrested and were undergoing prosecution with relevant security agencies.

9. Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said he is ready to face the House of Representatives probe over the controversy surrounding the N15tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway road project. Umahi added that he planned to ensure the exercise was televised live for all Nigerians to see.

10. Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, on Friday, received Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, exactly 68 years after his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, visited the state, on February 2, 1959. The Queen was received by the late Premier of the defunct Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello.