The Rivers State Elders’ Council has kicked against fresh threats of impeachment against Governor Siminalayi Fubara by members of the state House of Assembly who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.
According to the elders, the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers lacked the legitimacy to take any action because they had lost their seats by defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
News About Nigeria reported that the 27 lawmakers who are loyal to Wike had on Saturday threatened to revisit the impeachment proceedings against Fubara as a last resort to uphold the nation’s constitution.
This, according to them, is because the Governor has refused to abide by all the Abuja peace agreements, pointing out that he had continued to act outside the law, including running the state without an approved budget.
It can be recalled that Fubara survived impeachment by the lawmakers last year October when he had a feud with Wike, his estranged political godfather.
The lawmakers, however, dropped the impeachment threat following an intervention by President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to the fresh threats against governor Fubara, a member of the Rivers Elders’ Council and pioneer spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, described the impeachment threat as mere ranting.
This, according to him, is because the lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the pro-Wike lawmakers was pending before the Court of Appeal.
Speaking on the state budget, Sara-Igbe, concurred with the lawmakers, noting that all the eight-point agenda that was signed are illegal, which is why they are in court to contest it.
In his own words, “As far as we are concerned, all the eight-point agenda that was signed are illegal. And that is why we are in court to contest it. So, when a matter is before a court, it means the status quo remains. So, if they refuse to do that, then the court will take its own stand. You don’t take the laws into your own hands when you are in court. The governor cannot present any budget when we are in court.
“Well we are appearing before the Court of Appeal on April 8, 2024. When we appear, then we will know where they are. They are only ranting because they are an illegitimate House of Assembly. The governor himself does not have the power to legitimise them. For the sake of peace, he just gave them little recognition and they are now ranting and doing what they like. It is quite unfortunate. If you tell the governor the implication of these things he does not believe that these people that you think are making peace don’t mean well. But as I said, we are in court; so, let them continue to rant. Let them do whatever they like but I can assure you everything they are doing is illegal.”
