The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has instructed its members in the state House of Assembly to commence impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This 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.
While addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, explained that the impeachment process was necessary because the governor “has insulted the sensibility” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who tried to resolve the lingering crisis in the state.
It will be recalled that Fubara, and the State House of Assembly have been at each other’s throats over the passage of the Amended State’s Procurement Bill.
In recent development, the Assembly, led by Amaewhule, at its 173th Legislative Sitting, overrode the assent of Governor Siminialayi Fubara, to pass the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024 into Law.
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Reacting, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi 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.
In the same vein, the House had passed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024 on the 26th of March, 2024 and transmitted the same to the Governor for assent, which was declined according to the claims of the House.
Giving a highlight of 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 decried a situation where contracts were awarded without legal backing and the State being governed in a tyrannical manner.
He also noted 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.
He further stressed that if the Governor, Sir. Siminialayi Fubara, continue in this manner, the House would at the appropriate time take more stringent measures.
Amaewhule added that the House cannot stand aloof and watch the Governor continue to breach the Laws of the State in a dictatorial manner.
In his reaction to the development, Fubara said: “Those groups of men who claim that they are Assembly members are not Assembly members, they are not existing.”
According to Fubara, the lawmakers are only existing based on his interest in the Abuja peace accord initiated by President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara stated this 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.
Among 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’s words: “Those groups of men who claim that they are Assembly members are not Assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record. I accepted the Peace Accord to give them a floating home. 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.
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