Renowned Niger Delta activist Ann-Kio Briggs has voiced her endorsement of Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s stance on the disavowal of the House of Assembly leadership under Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule,leadership reports,
Governor Fubara, during an address to a delegation of political and traditional leaders from Bayelsa State at Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, dismissed the 25 members of the Assembly who switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as illegitimate.
Within 48 hours of the governor’s assertion, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency and a supporter of Fubara, emerged as a rival Speaker of the House.
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In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Briggs asserted that the 25 lawmakers lacked legal recognition and were endorsed not by law but by what she termed “unconstitutional and perilous solutions” imposed by President Bola Tinubu to address political oppression.
Briggs emphasized the need for all residents of Rivers State, irrespective of origin, to speak out against the fallout from the current political climate, warning of its potential impact on the state, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria’s economy.
She criticized the APC leadership in the state for urging the House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor, stressing that no ethnic group in Rivers State holds superior claim to its identity.
Briggs highlighted the historical dynamics of Rivers State politics, including the interplay between upland and riverine communities, and underscored the state’s commitment to unity, development, and equality among its ethnic nationalities.
She praised the diverse support for Governor Fubara, noting it as a reflection of the collective desire to uphold the political rights of all residents.
Briggs also addressed the internal fragmentation within the Rivers State chapter of the APC, pointing out the ongoing legal dispute over the party’s chairmanship and asserting that the party lacked the authority to dictate the legitimacy of lawmakers awaiting judgment in the state Court of Appeal.
