The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has kicked against the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, warning the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly to abandon the move.
Naijaonpoint reports that the group described the impeachment plot as a futile exercise driven by personal interests, accusing the lawmakers, said to be loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, of using constitutional procedures to pursue vendetta.
The INC said the impeachment lacked popular support across Rivers State, stressing that the people were firmly opposed to any attempt to remove the governor.
Speaking in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, the President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said the move would ultimately fail.
“Yes, I’m very positive that at the end of the day it will all turn out to be a futile exercise,” Okaba said.
“There is public outcry against them within and outside Rivers State because it is obvious that this is a clear case of vendetta using the instrumentality of impeachment.
“It is not about the growth of democracy and development; it is all about personal interest above the interest of the state.”
Okaba criticised some lawmakers of Ijaw extraction who openly supported the impeachment, describing their actions as a betrayal of their people.
“Some Ijaw brothers in the House came out to say they are Ijaw people and that they support the impeachment. People have asked me, don’t you consider that Ijaw people in the House are supporting it?
“My answer is no. They are not speaking for Ijaw people. They have not consulted their constituents, and they lack Ijaw spirituality and consciousness,” he said.
He also faulted the conduct of four lawmakers who initially withdrew support for the impeachment but reversed their position within 48 hours.
The INC president further alleged that the impeachment was fuelled by material inducements, accusing lawmakers of prioritising personal benefits over public interest.
“Take for instance the issue of supplementary materials. These same persons have collected vehicles worth N350 million while they were on suspension, with some cases being given to all of them.
“That Greek gift was collected in the public domain and nobody has refuted that. All of this shows it is about self-interest,” Okaba stated.
Okaba accused the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, of orchestrating the impeachment to advance his personal political ambition.
“Somebody is desperate to be governor by all means and therefore orchestrating impeachment.
“The Speaker should be told: when your time comes, contest; not to rubbish a system to become governor from the backdoor,” he said.
He also questioned the inclusion of the deputy governor in the impeachment process, insisting that Prof. Odu had committed no offence.
“Let’s say the governor fumbled, what did the deputy governor do that you’re also including her?
“All these displays of selfishness will not work. It will take our democracy several years back if allowed,” Okaba added.