A non-partisan group, Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thoughts, led by Chief Sunnie Chukumele, has voiced reservations about the presidential peace accord aimed at addressing the brewing political crises in Rivers State.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, the group, consisting of 11 members, highlighted perceived shortcomings in the peace deal, asserting that it failed to adequately represent the interests of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state.
The group contended that the peace initiative fell short of addressing the root cause of the crisis, citing concerns about the status of defected state House of Assembly lawmakers and the request for the re-presentation of the 2024 budget.
Among their grievances were the reinstatement of state executive council members who resigned during the political turmoil and the alleged lack of coordination in assembly plenaries.
The resolution read, “We observed that the Abuja peace proclamation did not recognise constitutional, judicial and legal issues regarding the state house of assembly members who defected from their political party to a new one.
“Clause 7 of the presidential peace deal, if adopted, will mean that there are no other persons so qualified to serve in the State Executive Council other than those who willingly resigned their appointments.”
Recall that the peace accord, brokered by Bola Ahmed Tinubu and involving Mr. Fubara and other key political players in the state, included provisions such as the re-presentation of the already-passed 2024 budget and the reinstatement of commissioners who resigned amid the political rift.
This agreement stemmed from the political rift between the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his political godson, Fubara, leading to the defection of 26 pro-Wike lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress and the resignation of some commissioners loyal to Fubara.
NAN