Rivers Assembly: Oko-Jumbo emerges factional speaker, Sokari as house leader
A fresh twist was introduced to the messy political battle in Rivers State, yesterday, as lawmaker representing Bonny Local Government Area State Constituency, Victor Oko-Jumbo, emerged as the factional speaker of the state Assembly.
He emerged as speaker of the three-man assembly members loyal to Governor Sim Fubara, during its sitting in Port Harcourt.
His emergence was said to have followed the resignation of Edison Ehie, now the Chief of Staff to the state government.
Governor Fubara is expected to acknowledge Jumbo as a recognised speaker.
A statement signed by the Clerk of the 10th Assembly, Dr. G. M. Gillis-West said he was elected at 10 am during plenary, in line with the Standing Order of the House.
In his acceptance speech, Oko-Jumbo, thanked the members for electing him as the new Speaker sequel to the resignation of Ehie.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Oko-Jumbo said: “You will agree with me that after the House last sat on the 13th of December, 2023, and adjourned sine dine, there has been an avalanche of legislative rascality perpetrated by the 25 former members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.
“These former members, being fully aware of the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the CFRN 1999, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Party (APC) on the 11th of December, 2023.
“Consequently, the Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie-led Assembly, on the 13th of December, 2023, wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring the seats of the 25 lawmakers vacant in line with Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the CFRN 1999.”
Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo emphasised: “All laws, plenary sessions and actions taken by the illegal House members are hereby declared void and a nullity in the eyes of the law by virtue of the judgment of Lord Denning in the celebrated case of MacFoy v UAC (1961) 3 All ER 1169.
“Lord Denning held in that case that you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. Particularly, Lord Denning stated: If an act is void, then it is in law a nullity. It is not only bad, but incurably bad. There is no need for an order of court to set it aside.
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“It is automatically null and void without more ado, though it is sometimes more convenient to have the court declare it to be so.”
Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo stated further, that every proceeding which was founded on the activities of the former lawmakers had become bad and incurably bad.
“You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there. It will collapse”, he added.
The new speaker called on the Executive arm, the Judiciary and the general public to disregard every law purportedly enacted by the illegal assembly members because they all amount to nothing but an exercise in futility.
He said: “Furthermore, this House would want to most respectfully urge and call on the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to desist forthwith from further dealings with the 25 former lawmakers, in whatever guise.
“Those members are merely floating and do not have any landing ground or anywhere to berth their ship since their defection to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th of December, 2023.
“This House is the legally and constitutionally recognised House of Assembly by virtue of the defection of the other members, and is ready to receive correspondences from and work with His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. Distinguished colleagues, let me thank you once again.”
Speaking to newsmen after the 10 am sitting of the House, Oko-Jumbo, said he will stay true to his constitutional duties and work assiduously for the growth and development of Rivers people and the state.
Also speaking, the newly elected Leader of the House, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari said: “As the chairman of the government business in the 10th Assembly, as youve heard our Speaker say, we will work in line with set goals to achieve synergy with the Executive.
“But away from that, we want to further warn that if His Excellency, the Governor ever have any dealing with those former members, we, the original members of the 10th Assembly, who by the provisions of the Constitution, form the quorum to address legislative business of the day, will have no choice than to raise the gavel, which is to commence impeachment proceedings against him.”
He, therefore, urged the governor to cooperate and work in tandem with the legitimate members of the 10th Assembly to ensure the delivery of good governance and quality dividends of democracy to Rivers people, who have bestowed their trust and mandate on them at this time.