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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Rivers State House of Assembly has threatened to resume impeachment proceedings against governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.
Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers Ctate capital on Saturday, speaker of the assembly, Martin Amaewhule, who was flanked by 26 lawmakers, accused Fubara of refusing to fulfill his part of the accord reached during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
The lawmakers said they withdrew their impeachment notice against Fubara out of respect for Tinubu, hoping that he would fulfill his side of the armistice.
The lawmakers said they would resume the impeachment proceedings against Fubara as the last resort if he continues to “breach the constitution.”
“We begin by announcing to you that sponsored attacks on the house have failed woefully.
“Enemies of the people and those who cannot withstand the principles of the rule of law as well as checks and balances in our nascent democracy, in their frustration, started with the burning and later demolition of the hallowed chamber.
“Their plan is to eliminate the legislature that is pushing for the independence granted her by the constitution since they cannot exercise undue control over her.
“We survived these attacks!” he said.
The lawmakers accused Fubara of “unlawful actions” and flouting the constitution.
Amaewhule criticised members of the PDP presidential campaign council in the 2023 election for their remarks against the assembly and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
“Their new strategy is to use another arm of government, lobbyists, attack dogs and the mainstream and social media to bring the House to disrepute and consummate their agenda. In this regard, various individuals, groups, media mercenaries have been recruited to actualise their objectives.
“The latest of the new groups recruited against the 10th Assembly is the Former Rivers State PDP Presidential Campaign Council.
“In a press conference on March 26, 2024 signed by Dr. Abiye Sekibo, this group inferred that the House is an illegal and unconstitutional Assembly.
“Others in this group are the likes of Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Senator Lee Maeba and Prince Uche Secondus. Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, Sir Celestine Omehia amongst others, are among these desperate politicians who left their houses and gathered under a canopy with H.E. Atiku Abubakar and H.E. Ifeanyi Okowa’s pictures on a banner behind them professing their new support for Mr. President and the Rivers State Governor.
“They must not forget that the Rivers State House of Assembly has the mandate of the people and that we swore an oath of allegiance to the Constitution to do the needful, including the impeachment of the governor as a last resort.
“So, if it becomes a last resort, in accordance with the law, we will not hesitate to do so because no individual is bigger than Rivers State, including the governor.
“It is worthy of note that the notice of impeachment of the governor was quickly withdrawn by members of the House in fulfillment of the terms of the agreement and out of immense respect for the person and office of the President of the Federal Republic and believing that there would be a u-turn in terms of unlawful actions of the governor.
“The reverse is now the case as we see from day to day the activities of the state governor beinh conducted outside the laws of Rivers State and the Constitution,” he said.
Amaewhule noted that Rivers State remained the only state without an appropriation law.
“These new hawks in the scene and all those who are quick to refer to the governor as ‘Mr. Innocent’ will not go and advise him.
“They prefer to hold talk shows, organise rallies, hold press conferences, and announce that the House commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor for no just cause but fail to ask the governor if he has not been informed of the particulars of gross misconduct levelled against him or at least read them when they were filed in court in response to his petition,” he added.
Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, and Fubara, his successor, have been at loggerheads over the control of the state’s political structure.
The feud between both men sparked a political crisis in the state leading to the demolition of the House of Assembly complex.
The political crisis also resulted in the resignation of some of Fubara’s cabinet members.
In the wake of the crisis, Wike’s associates in the assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor.
Also, 27 lawmakers in the House of Assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Edison Ehie, the factional speaker of the house at the time, declared the seats of the lawmakers vacant.
Fubara subsequently presented the 2024 budget to four members of the assembly.
On December 18, the governor and Wike agreed to end the political feud between them after President Bola Tinubu intervened.
Some of the resolutions reached at the meeting include withdrawal of all matters instituted in courts by the different factions, the 27 lawmakers who defected to the APC should be taken back as members of the assembly, the impeachment proceedings against Fubara should be withdrawn, and the govenor should represent the state budget to a properly constituted assembly.
Following the signing of the agreement, the 27 lawmakers who endorsed the impeachment proceedings also rescinded the notice against the governor.
The governor has also sworn in the commissioners who resigned from his government.
However, the political crisis has not abated.
The lawmakers recently vetoed the govenor on two bills he refused to sign into law.
