The political crisis rocking Rivers State continued at the weekend following the parallel sittings of lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule and those controlled by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
While the Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers sat at the Auditorium Administrative Block, Government House to carry out their business, the Amaewhule-led Assembly held its plenary at the Auditorium, Assembly Quarters, off Aba Road.
The Oko-Jumbo lawmakers were said to be the loyalists of the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara while the Amaewhule-led legislators, who are more in number, were said to be the supporters of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Earlier, the Victor Oko-Jumbo Assembly screened and confirmed Lawrence Oko-Jaja, SAN, as Chairman of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBoPP).
Also screened and confirmed as members of the board were Dr. Ernest Ibekwe Ekwe; Dr. Mina Ogbanga; Iseleye Amachree; Adokiye Oyagiri; Gift Alex-Hart; Mrs. Grace Osaronu; and Selinah Amoniea.
The eight nominees appeared for screening and confirmation before the lawmakers in line with the letter sent by the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to Oko-Jumbo.
Oko-Jumbo read the letter during the plenary at the Hallowed Chamber of the House of Assembly, Auditorium of the Administrative Block, Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, on Friday.
The governor in the letter said: “Request for screening and confirmation of the members of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement; pursuant to the provisions of Section 1, Sub-Section 4 of the Rivers State Public Procurement Law No. 4 of 2008.
“It is my pleasure to forward the underlisted nominees to the Rivers State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as members of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement.”
During the screening, the nominees promised to bring their wealth of experience in moving the state forward in relation to Government policy implementation.
Oko-Jaja assuring that if confirmed, the board under his watch watch would ensure value for money for goods and services contracted by the state government.
Oko-Jumbo advised the nominees to always know that they would hold their trust and loyalty to the state government to seamlessly harmonise best practices with quality performance while enforcing probity and accountability in all procurements handled by the Bureau.
The lawmakers by voice votes confirmed the nominees describing them as fitting for their appointments.
But the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly passed the Electricity Market Bill, 2024 into law.
The bill was sponsored to to repeal the Rivers State Electricity and Gas Board Law CAP 50, Laws of Rivers State 1999.
A statement signed by Amaewhule’s Special Assistant Media, Martins Wachukwu, said the action of the lawmakers was designed to positively impact on the investment climate in Rivers State for the benefit of the people.
The statement said the he Rivers State Electricity Market Law would provide for electricity supply, its power generation, transmission and distribution within Rivers State and would establish the Rivers State Electricity Commission for the enforcement of consumers’ right and obligation.
Debating on the report presented by Frankline Nwabochi, Chairman of the House Committee on Power, the lawmakers lauded the committee for a job well done.
The legislators stressed that the level of stakeholders’ participation in the Public Hearing spoke volumes on the acceptability of the bill, and urged the House to pass the bill into law.
Commenting on the Report of the Committee, Speaker Amaewhule, commended the committee and members for their robust debate on the importance of the nill.
The Speaker emphasised the benefits of the bill, saying it would allow the electricity market to flourish.
He added that the bill when passed into law would attract foreign investors and open windows of opportunities for Rivers people.
Amaewhule expressed the hope that given the progressive import and benefits of the bill, the governor would assent to the bill when passed.
The Electricity Market Bill was committed to the House Committee on Power on the 8th of May, 2024; and in line with Legislative practice and rules of the House, the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole and gave the bill a through consideration before reverting to plenary to give the bill third reading.
