By Damilare Adeleye
A fresh crisis is brewing in Rivers State as the State House of Assembly said it would activate an impeachment process as the last resort if Governor Similanayi Fubara fails to abide by the peace accord signed at the heat of the past crisis in the state.
Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaehwule, said this at a news conference in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday.
Amaehwule said the responsibilities of the Assembly are constitutionally recognized and it holds the mandate of carrying out its responsibilities.
The Speaker asked those close to the governor to advise him to uphold the tenets of the peace accord brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “They must not forget that the Rivers State House of Assembly has the mandate of the people and that we swore an oath of allegiance to the Constitution to do the needful, including the Impeachment of the Governor as a last resort. So, if it becomes a last resort, in accordance with the law, we will not hesitate to do so because no individual is bigger than Rivers State, including the Governor.
“It is worthy of note that the notice of impeachment of the Governor was withdrawn by members of the House in fulfilment of the terms of the agreement and out of immense respect for the person and office of the President of the Federal Republic and believing that there would be a U-turn in terms of unlawful actions of the Governor. The reverse is now the case as we see from day to day the activities of the State Governor being conducted outside the laws of Rivers State and the Constitution.
“What about advising the Governor to heed to the Peace Agreement he begged for, willingly signed, and has chosen not to abide by some of the terms?
“To this day, Rivers remains the only State without an Appropriation Law and the Governor recklessly abandons laws of the State. These new hawks in the scene and all those who are quick to refer to the Governor as “Mr. Innocent” will not go and advise him. They prefer to hold talk shows, organize rallies, hold press conferences, and announce that the House commenced impeachment proceedings against the Governor for no just cause but fail to ask the Governor if he has not been informed of the particulars of gross misconduct levelled against him or at least read them when they were filed in Court in response to his petition.
“We begin by announcing to you that sponsored attacks on the House has failed woefully. Enemies of the people and those who cannot withstand the principles of the rule of law as well as checks and balances in our nascent democracy, in their frustration, started with the burning and later demolition of the Hallowed Chamber. Their plan is to eliminate the legislature that is pushing for the independence granted her by the Constitution since they cannot exercise undue control over her.
“We survived these attacks! Their new strategy is to use another arm of government, lobbyists, attack dogs and the mainstream and social media to bring the House to disrepute and consummate their agenda. In this regard, various individuals, groups, and media mercenaries have been recruited to actualize their objectives.
“We assure the good people of Rivers State that we remain undeterred in our service to our fatherland and no number of threats including those of violence against us just like they attacked the Speaker’s residence will make us abandon our Constitutional mandate to make laws for the good governance of our dear State.”
The assembly and Fubara have been on war path since the governor fell out with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.