By Emeka Amaefula
RIVERS STATE FORMER LAWMAKER RT. HON. EDISON EHIE & HIS POLITICAL CRAFTSMANSHIP
WHY HE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF
The revelations coming out from the ongoing Rivers state political crisis as at first week of January 2024 has opened up different political scheming and craftsmanship of political gladiators in the state including Barrister Edison Ehie an Ekpeye Ahoada East Local Government Area born politician. Prior to 2023, he was among those Rivers state youths who in 2013 and 2014 supported the then Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in his bid to be elected Governor of Rivers state irrespective of the Fact that Ikwerre ethnic group just completed 8-years in office as Governor of Rivers state.
For Edison Ogerenye Ehie a youthful politician, lawyer and an astute farmer and businessman who recently bagged a doctoral degree PhD in Law from Rivers state University Port Harcourt. His political journey culminated with his elevation to the position of Factional Speaker in the Rivers state House of assembly during the beginning of the ongoing political quagmire. He was elected as a House of Assembly member in 2015, under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform to represent the constituency of Ahoada East II. He was re-elected in the rerun election in 2016, 2019, and 2023.
Rt. Honourable Edison Ehie has been a member of Peoples Democratic Party PDP and he has been a political activist starting from when he was elected as President National Union of Rivers state Students-NURRS and National President of Orashi Youth Council all in Rivers state. Edison’s educational journey began with his primary education at the UPE Primary School. He further pursued his academic accomplishment at Western Ahoada County High School in Ahoada Town. Thereafter, he pursued higher education as he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law LLB from the Rivers State University former Rivers State University of Science and Technology Nkpolu Orowurokwo, Port Harcourt. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration as he capped his academic pursuit with a Master’s degree in Petroleum Law LLM all from Rivers state University. And in 2023 he earned his Doctoral Degree in Law LL.D.(PhD). Armed with his penchant for public service and his political activism, he challenged the political leadership of the 10th Rivers state House of Assembly led by Rt. Honourable Martins Chike Amaewhule when he was suspended on 30th of October and was replaced, on same day he rallied three other Lawmakers loyal to governor Siminialayi Fubara and suspended 27 other lawmakers loyal to Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Suprisingly after being declared in an interim Court injunction as Speaker Rivers state House of assembly when on 11th of December 2023 27 Lawmakers loyal Minister Wike defected to All Progressives Congress APC and the crisis got worsened with further division and political horse-trading on going in the state. Elders Forum in Rivers state with HRH Anabs Sara Igbe declared support for Governor Fubara and asked President Tinubu to intervene in the Rivers state Political skirmishes as at 18th of December, 2023 the elders and other stakeholders were invited to Presidential Villa Abuja including Sir Dr. Peter Odili and about 149 others who were handed over 8-Points Proclamation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The resolutions recognise Rt. Honourable Martins Amaewhule as Speaker Rivers state House of Assembly which if followed will edge out barrister Edison Ehie as Speaker Rivers state House of Assembly. But on Sunday,29th of December, 2023 Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie resigned as Speaker Rivers state House of Assembly. People were taken aback with Edison Ehie’s surprise resignation as member representing Ahoada East State Constituency 2 as he wrote to Independent National Electoral Commission-INEC, notifying the electoral body about vacancy in Ahoada East state constituency II in Rivers state House of Assembly.
In 2019, he got married to Mrs. Cynthia Edison Ehie nee Obuzor a Pharmacist who together in 2020 and thereafter begot two children.
His political journey includes being elected to the Rivers State House of Assembly in 2015, and subsequently re-elected in the rerun elections of 2016, 2019, and 2023, representing the constituency of Ahoada East II under the banner of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party.
Edison’s educational journey began with his primary education at the UPE Primary School. He continued his academic pursuits at Western Ahoada County High School in Ahoada Town. Subsequently, he pursued higher education, earning a degree in Law from the Rivers State University (formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology). Furthermore, he holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and a Master’s degree in Petroleum Law.
His political journey includes being elected to the Rivers State House of Assembly in 2015, and subsequently re-elected in the rerun elections of 2016, 2019, and 2023, representing the constituency of Ahoada East II under the banner of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party.
It is being speculated that Rivers state Governor Siminialayi Fubar may announce the appointment of Rt. Honourable Edison Ehie as his new Chief of Staff as compensation for the sacrifice he had made in resigning as Speaker and Member representing Ahoada II at Rivers state House of Assembly which he announced on Sunday 29th of December, 2023.
——————-Emeka Amaefula————+234(0)8111813069
