Rivers APC calls for immediate impeachment of Governor Fubara

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the impeachment of Governor Siminilayi Fubara.

The APC instructed its members in the state House of Assembly to do so barely 24 hours after Governor Fubara stated the House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule, is not recognized by the law.

Chief Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the APC made this known in a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

According to him, the impeachment was necessary because the governor insulted the sensibility of President Bola Tinubu, who had intervened in to resolve the crisis in the state.

Fubara and the State House of Assembly have been at loggerheads over the passage of the Amended State’s Procurement Bill.

The Assembly, at its 173rd Legislative Sitting, overrode the assent of Governor Siminialayi Fubara, to pass the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024 into Law.

Amaewhule’s led assembly made the decision to override the Governor after Fubara allegedly withheld his assent.

However, Fubara slammed the actions of the members of the state legislature towards his administration, saying the members would cease to exist if he wishes.

Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, while speaking on the Bill said the purpose of the Bill was to secure taxpayers’ money and ensure that it was not spent on trivialities and twisted contracts.

Amaewhule lamented a situation where contracts were awarded without legal backing and the State was governed in a dictatorial manner.

He emphasised that the House would continue to uphold the Laws of Rivers State and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered despite all malfeasance.

He stressed that if Governor Fubara, continue to breach the laws of the State in a tyrannical manner, the House would at the appropriate time take more stringent measures.

In response, Fubara said: “Those group of men who claim they are Assembly members are not Assembly members; they do not exist.”

Fubara claims the lawmakers are only existing based on his interest on the Abuja peace accord initiated by President Bola Tinubu.

The Governor made this statement while addressing a delegation of political and traditional leaders from Bayelsa State, who visited him in the Government House, Port Harcourt, to seek an end to the political crisis in Rivers State and an improved relationship between both states.

Those in the delegation included the first Military Governor of old Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff, who is the Traditional Ruler of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, other Traditional Rulers, former Commissioners, former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Siriake Dickson, former State and National Assembly members and PDP executives.

He said: “Those group of men who claim they are Assembly members are not Assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record. I accepted that Peace Accord to give them a floating. That is the truth.

“There was nothing in that Peace Accord that’s a constitutional issue; it’s a political solution to a problem. And I accepted it because these were people that were eating in my house, these were people I have helped paid their children’s school fees when I wasn’t even a governor. So, what is the thing there?

“We might have our division but I believe that one day, we could also come together but it has gotten to a time when I have to make a statement that they are not existing. Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognise them, they are nowhere. I want you to see the sacrifice I have made in allowing peace to reign in our state.”