Lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly have disclosed what they described as the real reason behind the impeachment process initiated against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, citing alleged attempts by the governor to undermine the legislature.
The lawmakers alleged that while efforts were being made by stakeholders and some members to seek a political solution to the protracted crisis, the governor was allegedly sponsoring moves to recall Assembly members through their constituents.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday at the temporary Assembly complex along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Hon. Looloo Opuende, representing Akuku Toru Constituency II, accused the governor of paying constituents to initiate recall proceedings against lawmakers.
“While the impeachment process was ongoing, the governor was busy paying our constituents to withdraw us from the Assembly,” Opuende alleged.
He added that genuine peace could only be achieved through dialogue with the Assembly leadership.
“If you wanted peace, you should have called the leadership of the Assembly and discussed the right way forward. Impeachment is a constitutional matter. I support and urge the Speaker to reconstitute the House for the process to continue,” he said.
Opuende further urged critics of the impeachment to probe the root cause of the executive-legislative rift in the state.
When contacted for reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, Darlington Oji, told Vanguard that he was unaware of the allegation.
“I am not aware,” Oji said.
Oji had earlier accused Assembly members of collecting ₦350 million each for constituency projects, despite some lawmakers’ claims that certain payments were not appropriated. He also questioned why some legislators rejected a ₦100,000 Christmas welfare payment, having allegedly accepted larger sums previously.
Lawmakers Withdraw Call For Political Solution
Meanwhile, four lawmakers who had earlier advocated for a political settlement have withdrawn their support for that approach, accusing the governor and his deputy of continued constitutional violations.
One of them, Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, said the executive had ignored overtures for peace.
“We had earlier opted for a political solution, but the governor and deputy governor remain adamant. They continue with illegal actions in the state. We consider this a slap to the Supreme Court, and we must defend the institution of the legislature,” she said.
Similarly, Hon. Barile Nwakoh of Khana Constituency I accused the governor of attempting to intimidate lawmakers.
“The strategy was to intimidate us into withdrawing the process while continuing infractions on the constitution and the law. This is very bad for our democracy. On this note, we must proceed with the process,” he said.
The impeachment notice, issued on Thursday, January 8, cites gross misconduct, including extra-budgetary spending exceeding ₦800 billion without legislative approval, withholding statutory funds for the Assembly Service Commission, demolition of the Assembly complex, and alleged defiance of Supreme Court rulings on legislative autonomy.
During plenary on Friday, presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the House voted on whether to investigate the allegations.