A former secretary-general of the apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, has condemned the impeachment move against the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
He stated that if the governor must be impeached, it should be based on constitutional breaches, not a witch hunt.
He shared his reservation while speaking to Leadership. He warned that the allegations levelled against Fubara should be of real concern to the people of the state and in accordance with the constitution.
Sani said, “While impeachment of the president or governor is a constitutional right of the state assembly, the constitution does not envision a situation where the legislators would politicise impeachment and use it to punish perceived opponents.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly should therefore base the impeachment on real constitutional breaches by the governor and the deputy, lest the legislators be accused of witch-hunting, which is counterproductive. That is to say, let the allegations be of real concern to real people of Rivers State, and in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.”
The Rivers Assembly had on Thursday commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara during plenary.
During plenary presided over by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Rivers State House of Assembly, Major Jack, read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Fubara.
The impeachment motion, based on Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, lists seven allegations of gross misconduct, including unauthorised demolition of the Assembly Complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds from the Assembly Service Commission, and failure to comply with Supreme Court rulings on the House’s financial autonomy.
Twenty-six members of the Rivers State House of Assembly signed the notice, which they alleged was against the Nigerian Constitution.