The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has revealed plans by the National Assembly to set up a reconciliation committee aimed at resolving the prolonged political unrest in Rivers State.
Abbas made this known during a plenary session on Tuesday, May 7, noting that the effort would be a joint initiative with the Senate. The decision comes in response to the growing political standoff between suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former ally and predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The dispute between both leaders has worsened in recent months, resulting in rising tensions, reported attacks on oil facilities, and ultimately, President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in the state.
During the plenary, Abbas announced that the reconciliation committee would be composed of “national figures” tasked with fostering peace, facilitating dialogue, and helping to restore democratic governance not only in Rivers but also in other states experiencing similar political instability.
This latest move follows the National Assembly’s recent endorsement of President Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in the oil-rich state. Shortly after the endorsement, the House of Representatives had already inaugurated a 21-member ad hoc committee led by House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, to oversee the activities of the sole administrator appointed by the president.
Speaking further, Abbas reaffirmed the House’s commitment to upholding its constitutional responsibilities and promoting national cohesion. He described the initiative as a necessary response to the “complex challenges” currently confronting leadership in Rivers State.
On the same day, the Senate also took a similar step by setting up its own committee to monitor the interim government led by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd). Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who announced this development during the plenary, stated that it was aimed at promoting accountability and transparency in the state’s governance. Akpabio added that the committee’s “constitution could be reviewed after further consultations have been made.”
