The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has directed its members in the State House of Assembly to commence impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The impeachment directive call is coming barely 24 hours after Governor Fubara said the House of Assembly led by the Speaker Martin Amaewhule is not recognised by law.
Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, said at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the impeachment process has become necessary because the governor “has insulted the sensibility” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who waded in to resolve the lingering crisis in the State.
APC said the impeachment process has become necessary in view of the governor’s blatant refusal to honour the peace agreement initiated by President Bola Tinubu between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his recent declaration of the lawmakers’ seats vacant.
Fubara, on Monday, declared, for the first time since the commencement of the crisis, that the APC lawmakers do not exist in the eyes of the law, adding that “those group of men who claim that they are Assembly members, they are not existing…their existence and whatever they have been doing is because I allow them to do so. If I don’t recognize them, they are nowhere”.
The latest crisis followed the vetoing of the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the House of Assembly at its 173th Legislative sitting on Monday.
The Amaewhule-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 lawmakers would cease to exist as legislators if he so decides.
The House had passed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024 on March 26, 2024 and transmitted same to the Governor for assent, but the House claimed that the governor 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 the State’s funds are not spent on frivolities and twisted contracts.
Amaewhule alleged that contracts were being 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. Siminalayi Fubara, continues in the same 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 Fubara responded thus: “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 Tinubu.
He said: “Those group of men, who claim that are Assembly members are not Assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record. I accepted that Peace Accord to give them a floating. That is the truth.
“There was nothing in that Peace Accord that’s a constitutional issue; it’s a political solution to a problem. And I accepted it because these were people that were eating in my house, these were people I have helped paid their children’s school fees when I wasn’t even a governor. So, what is the thing there?
“We might have our division but I believe that one day, we could also come together but it has gotten to a time when I have to make a statement that they are not existing. Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognise them, they are nowhere. I want you to see the sacrifice I have made in allowing peace to reign in our State,” he added.
