Two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn their support for the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, urging their colleagues to seek a political solution rather than pursue removal from office.
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The lawmakers, Hon. Sylvanus Enyi Nwankwo, representing Omuma State Constituency and the Minority Leader of the Assembly, alongside Hon. Peter Abi of Degema State Constituency, made their position known at a press conference on Monday in Rivers State.
Addressing the impeachment notice already issued against the governor and his deputy, the lawmakers said they convened the press briefing to formally appeal to their colleagues.
“Gentlemen, you are all aware that the Rivers State House of Assembly issued a notice of impeachment on the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State,” they said.
“But we have called this press conference to appeal to our fellow colleagues to temper justice with mercy, and to see how we can resolve this matter apart from impeachment proceedings.”
The lawmakers disclosed that pressure from elders and leaders within and outside Rivers State informed their decision to step back from the impeachment move.
“Having listened to so many pleas and calls from our elders and leaders, both within and outside the state, begging for leniency, we are calling on our colleagues to reconsider our step and see how this matter can be resolved amicably, even though the Governor and the Deputy Governor have infringed on the Constitution,” the lawmakers said.
Reiterating their position, they acknowledged alleged constitutional infractions but stressed the need for restraint.
@thenigerialawyerTwo Rivers Lawmakers Withdraw Support For Fubara Impeachment, Appeal To Colleagues To “Temper Justice With Mercy”
“As the Minority Leader said, the Governor, yes, he has infringed on parts of the Constitution, but we are human beings, and we as members of the 10th Assembly want to plead with our colleagues to please reconsider,” Abi added.
The lawmakers further noted that appeals had come from prominent figures across the state and beyond, warning against irreversible political actions.
“We have received calls from leaders, from people in Rivers State and outside Rivers State, and we see that you don’t raise the axe and sweep it as you raise it,” they said.
However, the lawmakers insisted that Governor Fubara must also take responsibility by ensuring strict adherence to constitutional provisions going forward.
“So we plead with our colleagues to reconsider, to please reconsider, provided the Governor too has a role to play. He must make sure he does not infringe further on the Constitution, so that there can be an amicable settlement to the whole issue,” they said.
Abi echoed the sentiment, saying: “The governor, too, has a role to play; he must ensure he does not infringe further on the constitution. That will bring an amicable settlement to the whole thing.”
The intervention by the two lawmakers comes amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, as the impeachment process against Governor Fubara and his deputy continues to generate controversy and deepen divisions within the House of Assembly.
On Thursday, the state parliament commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy. The lawmakers launched the process after Major Jack, leader of the Assembly, read gross misconduct charges against Fubara, signed by 26 members of the House.
The seven points of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara include the demolition of the Assembly Complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to obey the Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the House.
The intermittent divisions between the executive and the legislature, and the latest impeachment moves, have heightened political tensions in the oil-rich state.
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