The Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council has strongly condemned the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, describing the move as self-serving and destined to fail.
The elders accused the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly of hiding behind constitutional provisions to pursue personal and political interests, warning that the action could destabilise Rivers State and beyond.
Supporting the position earlier taken by the Ijaw National Congress, a member of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council and pioneer spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Anabs Sara-Igbe, said the impeachment was not only unnecessary but also embarrassing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Rivers State.
“It is very obvious that the Assembly members are showing ingratitude to Mr President and also to Rivers people,” Sara-Igbe said.
“They think they are fighting Sim Fubara; no, they are fighting Rivers people. All they are trying to do is to stall development in the state.”
Sara-Igbe also criticised the lawmakers for what he described as their failure to respect the emergency rule earlier imposed on the state, which brought federal oversight following political unrest.
He alleged that the legislators had already benefited financially during that period.
“If they can do something that made a stranger come and lavish our resources for six months and that is not enough, they still want to impeach the governor. Let them go ahead,” he said.
“But they should realise they are not fighting Sim; they are fighting Rivers people, and Rivers State will react appropriately.”
The elder statesman further accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of engaging in premature political campaigns under the guise of ‘thank you’ visits, describing the action as disrespectful to both the President and the state.
“They said they have an agreement. I challenge them to publish the agreement they have that Sim refused to implement,” Sara-Igbe said.
“If the agreement is in the interest of the state, let them publish it. Rivers people, as far as we are concerned, Sim is going for a second tenure whether they like it or not.”
Warning of dire consequences if the impeachment proceeds, Sara-Igbe said the process would ultimately collapse and could worsen political tension in the state and the country.
“The impeachment will hit the rocks. The process takes a long way, and as soon as the seven-man panel comes up to say the man is not guilty, that is the end of it,” he said.
“They cannot harass him with impeachment anymore. Rivers people are tired of their gimmick; we are tired of their tricks.”
He concluded with a caution to Wike and his supporters, insisting that the plan would backfire.
According to Sara-Igbe, “What they are doing will trigger problems in the state, in the region, and in the country. So they should think well.
“If they continue with the impeachment, I wish them well. But at the end of the day, the impeachment will fail. And if it fails, that’s the end of impeachment.”