The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is considering the option of initiating impeachment proceedings against Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State over a number of Constitutional breaches just as the political crisis in the state worsened.
The Daily Crucible reports that political situation in the Garden City took a disturbing dimension 48 hours ago after no fewer than 10 bulldozers roared into the multi-billion naira complex housing offices and legislative chambers of the legislature built by former Governor Peter Odili. The demolition equipment brought the structures down to the consternation of residents.
The bulldozers were drafted to the site at in the morning by Governor Fubara who before their arrival, had allowed four lawmakers loyal to him and led by ‘Speaker’ Edison Ehie, and whose leadership of the Assembly was recognised by an interim injunction granted by Justice Danagogo on Tuesday, held their ‘sitting’ at the complex and subsequently relocated to the Government House to receive the N809 billion budget 2024 presented by the Governor.
Earlier today, Thursday December 14, the Commissioner for Works, George-Kelly Alabo, and his counterpart from the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Inime Chinwenwo-Aguma, tendered their resignation letters.
The letter, dated December 14, was addressed to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, through the Secretary to the State Government.
Alabo and Chinwenwo-Aguma’s resignations came hours after the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor, also resigned from his position.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Woke, and Commissioner of Finance, Isaac Kamalu also resigned from Fubara’s cabinet.
The resigned cabinet members were believed to be strong loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Wike.
Addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Mr Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the state APC Caretaker Committee disclosed that impeachment is being considered.
“Although I am not a member of the state House of Assembly, but impeachment is a democratic process. Impeachment is not a coup detat,” he said.
Okocha said that the party would do everything possible to protect the 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers who defected to the APC.
“So, we are telling the governor that he cannot thrive on illegality, we will petition the judge before the National Judicial Council (NJC)for giving that jankara order against our members.
“So we want to appeal to our party to join us to defend our members who are being ill treated by the Rivers House of Assembly.
Speaking on the demolition of the state House of assembly complex, Okocha said the APC would not allow illegality to thrive in the state.
He added that the defected lawmakers would continue to meet else where, so long as they had the mace, which was the symbol of authority with them.
“You cannot place something on nothing and you expect it to stand. Illegality is illegal.
“Let me also let you know that what makes an assembly is not the structure, but the human beings in that assembly.
“So, an assembly can be moved to anywhere, provided the mace which is its symbol of authority is there. As at yesterday, about 27 members sat and took far-reaching decisions on state matters,” he said.
He said the APC had the majority members at the House of Assembly, having 27 out of its 32 members.
This, he said, was in line with the mandate given the party National Secretariat, to reach out to members of opposition parties in the state.
“We will fight illegality, we will not allow illegality to fester in our state. It is our duty now to defend our 27 members who are members of the State Assembly.
He also appealed to Chief Nyesom Wike the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to come to the assistance of the party in the state.
“I have wooed him personally, we have told him publicly to come over and help us. He is a political juggernaut not just in Rivers, but in Nigeria at large.
“He is a force, and that is why we won the presidential election after losing the three senatorial seats and all the State House of Assembly members,” Okocha said.
