The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule and loyal to Nyesom Wike, has declared the recently established Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as illegal. The Assembly also stated that all appointments made by the governor related to the agency are not recognized by law.
The House made this decision at its 41st sitting, citing the absence of any law permitting the creation of the agency and lack of communication to the House on the matter. The Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Gerald Oforji, presented a report on the “purported” inauguration of the agency’s Board by Governor Fubara.
The committee’s report noted that while such an agency could create a conducive climate for businesses, it regretted the absence of any law establishing it. The House relied on the committee’s findings and condemned the governor’s actions, declaring them illegal and questionable.
The Speaker, Amaewhule, recalled similar actions taken by Governor Fubara, such as appointing individuals to the Board of the Bureau for Public Procurement without regard to existing laws. The House voted in the affirmative, strongly condemning the governor’s actions.
This development highlights the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, with the Assembly and Governor Fubara at odds over the establishment of the investment agency. The issue raises concerns about governance, legality, and the rule of law in the state.
