The spokesperson for the Rivers State House of Assembly, Enemi George, has reiterated that the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu will continue, dismissing suggestions for a political solution.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, George clarified that the ongoing process was based on legal grounds and not political maneuvering.
He expressed doubt about claims that the impeachment was politically motivated, stating, “We’ve had one too many political solutions… It demeans, diminishes the institution of the Rivers House of Assembly if you say that everything that we do is because of politics… Right now, what we’re talking about is the law.”
On the governor’s repeated misconduct, George accused Fubara of being a “recidivist,” explaining that this term refers to someone who continuously commits the same crimes and is either punished or forgiven, only to repeat the same actions.
He cited instances of alleged mismanagement of public funds and questioned Fubara’s appointments of relatives to positions without proper screening.
George also addressed the controversy regarding a N100,000 “Christmas gift” allegedly transferred to lawmakers’ accounts on the governor’s orders, saying that it was rejected not because of the amount, but due to concerns about the legality of the funds.
He added, “These funds do not belong to my father, mother, or sister; they belong to the people of Rivers State, in the nooks and crannies, who will pay for it.”
Further, George stressed that political interventions from party leaders would not override the Assembly’s legal authority.
He referenced previous interventions by President Bola Tinubu, saying that the president’s efforts to broker peace had been undermined when agreements were violated.
“The first time the president intervened, he was insulted. They said it was a political solution that was not binding. The second time, the president went through hell to assemble stakeholders, to broker this peace, and then somebody goes back and reneges.
“You can’t keep breaking the law and expecting the president to come to your rescue,” George stated, referring to previous reconciliations between Governor Fubara and the lawmakers.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, in a plenary session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, formally initiated the impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu, citing allegations of gross misconduct.
The notice, signed by 26 lawmakers, was officially read out, and Amaewhule confirmed that the governor would be formally served within seven days.
This marks the second attempt to impeach Fubara, with the first one occurring in March 2025, which saw intervention from President Tinubu, resulting in a temporary reconciliation.