Nyesom Wike, federal capital territory (FCT) minister says his camp have played their part of the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Wike stated this on Saturday during a visit to the Oba of Ogbaland in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Royal Highness Eze Nnam Obi III.
“We accepted whatever decision Mr President has taken and we have on our own part fulfilled every condition given by Mr President because I told you I will not let you down,” the minister said.
“It is just to let you know that your request of making sure there is peace in the state of which you asked Mr President to intervene, we have accepted. And I want you to use this opportunity to continue to pray for Mr President for God to continue to give him wisdom to pilot the affairs of this nation,” the former governor said.
Assembly crisis
The political battle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Wike, battered the state assembly in October last year, after the house, loyal to the former governor, moved to impeach his successor without making public their reasons.
The Pro-Wike lawmakers also removed and suspended the majority leader, Ehie Edison, who refused to support the impeachment notice signed by majority of his colleagues.
The action of the aggrieved legislators, who later decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC), factionalised the state assembly, prompting Mr Edison to emerge speaker of the faction loyal to the governor.
As the battle moved to the courts, Mr Edison’s camp, made up of other four lawmakers were recognised while the defectors were ordered to stop parading themselves as state lawmakers having lost their seats by decamping from the political party which sponsored their elections.
The main building in the assembly complex was bulldozed on the recommendation of experts who claimed it was unsafe for inhabitants after part of it was bombed.
Also, members of the state executive council reportedly handpicked by the former governor began resigning in droves from the cabinet of the governor who provided an alternative sitting venue for Mr Edison and his colleagues and presented the N800 billion 2024 appropriation bill hurriedly passed and assented to.
Peace deal
President Bola Tinubu intervened and brokered a widely criticised peace deal which included the withdrawal of the impeachment notice and restoration of rights and privileges for the aggrieved lawmakers.
Mr Fubara, who said nothing was too much for peace, pressured Mr Edison to step down from his position as speaker, an action that has disbanded the faction of lawmakers loyal to him.
The Pro-Wike lawmakers who have withdrawn the impeachment notice are asking the governor to re-present the budget or be accused of spending without the approval of the assembly.
