By Abiola Olawale
Despite the declaration by Governor Siminilayi Fubara of Rivers State that there is no longer a political crisis in the state, recent development suggests that the last may not have been heard about the crisis rocking the oil-rich state.
This is as the Rivers state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has instructed the State House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, to, with immediate effect, commence impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
APC Caretaker Committee (CTC) chairman in the State, Chief Tony Okocha, gave the directive at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Tuesday.
The New Diplomat reports that the majority of 27 members of the State Assembly are loyalists of the immediate-past governor of the state and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Okocha, speaking during the press briefing said it became imperative to take steps to impeach Fubara following the remarks he made that the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the political crisis rocking the state was only a political solution and not constitutional.
Okocha also threatened that if the Assembly fails to commence the impeachment process, the party will invoke the relevant sections of its constitution to discipline them as APC members.
The New Diplomat reports that this comes after Fubara had lashed out at members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, saying they do not exist.
Fubara, who spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Monday said the Peace Accord he signed with his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, was political, hence he can derecognize them as lawmakers.
Fubara said the lawmakers are existing based on his recognition of the Peace Accord initiated by Tinubu.
He said: “Those groups of men who claim that they are Assembly members are not Assembly members, they do not exist. I want it to be on record. I accepted that Peace Accord to give them a floating home.
“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 had helped pay 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.”
