The impeachment battle rocking Rivers State took a dramatic turn on Friday as lawmakers accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of secretly plotting to recall them from their constituencies instead of pursuing peace.
The lawmakers said the alleged plot was the final straw that forced them to stand firm on the impeachment of the governor and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
Speaking at a press conference at the temporary Assembly complex on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Hon. Looloo Opuende, who represents Akuku Toru Constituency II, alleged that while stakeholders and some legislators were pushing for political reconciliation, the governor was allegedly working underground to destabilise the Assembly.
According to him, “while the impeachment process was going on, the governor was busy paying our constituents to withdraw us from the Assembly. Is that the right thing to do?
“If you wanted peace, you should have called the leadership of the Assembly and discuss with them on the right way to go. Impeachment is a constitutional matter. I support and urge the speaker to reconstitute the House for the process to continue”.
Opuende said those issuing threats and demanding an end to the impeachment should first understand the real cause of the breakdown between the executive and legislative arms of government.
Reacting to the allegation, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Darlington Oji, denied knowledge of any such move, replying briefly, “I am not aware”.
Oji, however, stirred fresh controversy in an earlier interview where he alleged that lawmakers received N350 million each for constituency projects, despite claims by some legislators that certain payments were not appropriated.
He also said the N100,000 Christmas welfare offered to lawmakers last December was rejected by some of them because it was not appropriated.
”They rejected it that it was not appropriated. You cannot build something on nothing.
“Now, you rejected it because N100,000 was not appropriated. Can you ask them, the N350m naira that was given to each of them for their constituency project, where did it come from? Why did they not reject it since it was not appropriated?”
Meanwhile, four lawmakers who had earlier called for the impeachment process to be suspended in favour of dialogue have now made a U-turn.
Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, said at a separate press conference on Friday, “We had earlier opted for a political solution to the problem but the governor and the deputy governor are adamant. There are strong indications that they still want to 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.”
Also speaking, Hon. Barile Nwakoh of Khana Constituency I alleged that the governor and his deputy were using intimidation to force lawmakers to abandon the impeachment.
According to him, the strategy is “to continue to intimidate us into withdrawing the process while they continue with the infractions on the constitution and the law. This is very bad to our democracy. On this note, we must proceed with the process.”
Recall that on Thursday, January 8, the Rivers State House of Assembly issued an impeachment notice against Governor Fubara and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including extra-budgetary spending of over N800 billion without legislative approval, withholding statutory funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, demolition of the Assembly complex and alleged defiance of Supreme Court rulings on legislative autonomy.
On Friday, the House, under the supervision of Speaker Martins Amaewhule, voted on whether the governor and his deputy should be investigated, with 25 lawmakers voting in favour and none against.
