The All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State has ordered its members in the state House of Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
APC’s impeachment call is coming barely 24 hours after Governor Fubara said the House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule, is not recognised by law.
Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, said in a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the impeachment process was necessary because the governor “has insulted the sensibility” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who waded in to resolve the lingering crisis in the state.
DAILY GIST reports that Fubara, and the State House of Assembly have been at loggerheads.
The lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly had voted many times to override Fubara and pass new bills into law.
Amaewhule’s led assembly, took the decision to override the Governor after the governor allegedly withheld his assent.
But, Fubara, criticised the attitude of the members of the state legislature towards his administration, saying the members would cease to exist as legislators if he so decides.
The House had passed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024 on the 26th of March, 2024 and transmitted same to the Governor for assent, but the housed claimed that the Governor had declined assent.
Speaking on the Bill which was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack and debated upon by Members, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, reiterated the essence of the Bill, noting that it would secure taxpayers’ money and ensure that taxpayers’ money are not spent on frivolities and twisted contracts.
Amaewhule regretted a situation where contracts awarded without legal backing and the State being governed in a dictatorial manner.
He added that despite all the malfeasance, the House would continue to uphold the Laws of Rivers State and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered; stressing that if the Governor, Sir. Siminialayi Fubara, continue in this manner, the House would at the appropriate time take more stringent measures.
According to him, the House cannot stand aloof and watch the Governor continue to breach the Laws of the State in a tyrannical manner.
However, the governor of the state, Fubara in quick reaction said: “Those group of men who claim that are Assembly members are not Assembly members, they are not existing.”
Fubara said the lawmakers are only existing based on his interest on the Abuja peace accord initiated by President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara, who spoke while addressing a delegation of political and traditional leaders from Bayelsa State, who visited him in the Government House, Port Harcourt, to seek and end to the political crisis in Rivers State and an improved relationship between both states.
Those in the delegation included the first Military Governor of old Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff, who is the Traditional Ruler of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, other Traditional Rulers, former Commissioners, former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Siriake Dickson, former State and National Assembly members and PDP executives.
Fubara told the delegation that despite wielding state powers which he can deploy to achieve his aim, he has continued to act as the big brother in the face of intimidation and unwarranted attacks.
He revealed that he had always been present at any meeting that was called to resolve the crisis in the state but after each meeting, he was met with a new dimension of the crisis from the opposing side.
Fubara has found himself in crisis with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike over what appears as control of political structure in the state.
The face-off led to some lawmakers loyal to Wike defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
To ensure peace, President Bola Tinubu ordered both factions to sign a peace deal in December last year, which included recognizing the aggrieved state lawmakers loyal to Wike.
