Some residents of Port Harcourt are calling upon the judiciary to expedite judgments on cases linked to the political turmoil in Rivers State.

The focus is particularly on the legitimacy of the 25 state House of Assembly legislators who recently switched to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to some of the residents who spoke to Channels Television on Saturday, swift resolution is crucial to bringing clarity and stability to the volatile political climate which they argue is hampering investment in the region.

The ongoing tensions, stemming from events including attempts to impeach Governor Siminialayi Fubara over seven months ago and factional disputes within the Rivers State House of Assembly, have resulted in numerous unresolved issues.

These include challenges to the eligibility of the defected legislators, disputes over legislative actions, and alleged attempts to recommence impeachment proceedings against the governor.

Despite mediatory efforts, recent developments such as the election of a new speaker by pro-Fubara lawmakers and subsequent legal motions, suggest that instability persists.

These developments have become worrying to residents of Port Harcourt. One of them and a legal practitioner Aghogho Okpako is calling on the judiciary to accelerate action on pending matters related to the crisis.

‘Totally Needless’ Crisis

“I think that the ongoing crisis is totally needless. They have attempted political solution which has failed,” he said. “Unfortunately for the second time, we are experiencing something like this. The first time, it affected us directly as lawyers because a lot of our colleagues actually left Port Harcourt in search of survival.”

“At this stage, it is my view that the buck is on the court at the moment especially at this stage where they are different legislative factions. Nobody knows what is right or wrong; which is legal or illegal,” the legal practitioner added.

“It is only the courts that will decide on that. I hope that the judiciary stands up at this very crucial time and apply the law as it is. A further delay in this matter will also further reduce the business potential of the state. So, apart from the politicians doing their things, I urge the judiciary to actually apply speed in resolving this matter. They are basically questions of law,” he said.

‘It Has Affected Business’

Other residents of the oil-rich state believe that the political crisis may rub off on economic activities in Rivers.

The Rivers State Chairman of the Independent Petroluem Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Tekena Ikpaki, told Channels Television that the maintenance of law and order is essential to a thriving economy.

“Basically, no business thrives in an atmosphere of rancour and hostility. Considering the unstable nature of the crisis between the legislative and executive arms of governments, it has affected business and the environment to a great deal,” the IPMAN chair said.

“I want to use this medium to call on all tiers of government in Rivers State that are involved in this thing to bury their sword and see themselves as brothers,” he added.

In spite of the tension, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, says there is no cause for alarm.

“Most importantly, everybody has been moving around freely in the state. So far, so good, there is nothing that calls for serious concerns,” the commissioner noted.

In the face of the non-ending political brawls, the general sentiment among residents is that active governance cannot thrive amidst chaos. There are calls for all parties involved to prioritise the welfare of Rivers people above political interests,” he said. (Channels TV)

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