OHANAEZE NDIGBO PRESS RELEASE: 10/02/2025

The Apex Igbo Sociocultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, feels compelled to address the recent Supreme Court verdict concerning Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s lawsuit against the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, and 26 other distinguished lawmakers. The Court’s dismissal of Governor Fubara’s claims, rendered on February 10, 2025, under case number SC/CV/1071/2024, stands as a resounding triumph for democracy and a reaffirmation of the rule of law in our beloved nation.

This ruling is not merely a legal decision; it is a clarion call for governance steeped in collaboration, respect, and adherence to constitutional mandates. The verdict serves to unequivocally establish that Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule is the bona fide Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. It is incumbent upon Governor Fubara to heed this ruling, to reassess his strategies, and to engage in a genuine and constructive dialogue with the Assembly. Should he choose the path of obstinacy and conflict rather than reconciliation, he risks inciting a catastrophic denouement to his administration, an exit laced with disgrace that could transpire well before the scheduled end of his term in 2027.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly asserts that the governor’s current plight is exacerbated by the counsel of self-serving political hawks who have surrounded him, individuals whose intent has been to lead him astray from the path of constructive governance. These influential elements have dissuaded him from recognizing the sagacious advice rendered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a pivotal peace meeting designed to resolve political tensions within Rivers State. In that forum, President Tinubu urged Governor Fubara to seek peace with Rt. Hon. Amaewhule, advising him to submit the 2024 Budget Appropriation Bill with the goodwill of the Assembly. The governor’s blatant disregard for this counsel and his pursuit of legal battles instead demonstrate a failure to prioritize the greater good over personal ambition.

By perpetuating these legal contests, Governor Fubara has tacitly affirmed the Assembly’s legitimacy and authority. His obstinate disregard for the constitution—from circumventing the principles enshrined in the 1999 Constitution to leveraging individuals like Oko Jumbo to foment discord—underscores a troubling trend towards governance steeped in illegality and political manipulation. Such actions cannot and will not be tolerated by the electorate or by history.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo delivers this unequivocal warning to Governor Fubara: Should he persist in his misguided legal tussles and refuse to acknowledge the authority of the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, he will not only face severe political repercussions but also risks inscribing his administration in history as the shortest-lived and most embattled in Rivers State’s political narrative. The ramifications of his choices will manifest visibly; the opposition leaders who may seem to stand beside him today will retreat when the consequences of his actions become inescapably evident.

The Supreme Court’s verdict is, therefore, a potent reminder—a demand for reflection, reconsideration, and a prompt return to the principles of accountability and collaboration. Governor Fubara must recognize that the sooner he capitulates to the will of the people through their elected representatives, the better it will be for his overall legacy as a leader.

In summation, we implore Governor Siminialayi Fubara to abandon the path of conflict and to pursue a course of unity, understanding, and mutual respect with Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule. Only through concerted efforts toward reconciliation can a stable and productive governance be achieved in Rivers State.

Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro
Deputy President General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo