By Austin Ogwuda
The cold war between members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Fubara is raging as the Assembly members, at plenary today (Friday) voted to override the Governor who refused assent to four Bills earlier passed and presented to him.
The Bills were: The Rivers Local Government Amendment Law; The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law; The Rivers State Advertisement/ Use of State Owned Property Prohibition Repeal Law and The Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.
Political watchers are of the view that with the passage of these four Bills into Law, hitherto refused assent by the governor, the governor has been amputated as he can no longer appoint Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of the local government councils in the State.
The Townhall gathered that during its sitting held at the House of Assembly Quarters, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule read four letters addressed to him by the governor wherein he declined his assent to the four new Bills which were sent to him for assent.
The Speaker openly accused the governor of not planning to conduct local government elections in the state because “by the reasons given by the Governor it means he doesn’t plan to conduct local government elections in the State.
“The House relying on Section 100 subsection 5 said the assent of the governor is not required for the passage into law of the said bills.
“This section states that where the Governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by two thirds majority, the bill shall become a law and the assent of the Governor shall not be required.
“The key thing here is that this law removes the power of the Governor to appoint Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the Local Governments, the Governor is not happy that we are removing his powers to appoint Caretaker Chairmen”, said the Speaker..
