By Mary Onyia
As the political crisis in Rivers State gets to its climax, with the 27 All Progressive Congress , APC, members of the State House of Assembly rooting for the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has mocked them saying that they lack the locus standi to remove him from office.
The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has issued a standing order to the 27 APC members in the House of Asembly to immediately commence an impeachment proceeding against Governor Fubara.
But, in an apparent show of being in control, the state government unrattled by the threat had criticized the ruling APC over its call on the state House of Assembly to unseat the state governor.
APC said the impeachment process was necessary given the governor’s blatant refusal to honour the peace agreement initiated by President Bola Tinubu between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, some months ago and his recent declaration of the lawmakers’ seats vacant.
Reacting to the impeachment move against him, Fubara, Monday, had declared, for the first time since the commencement of the crisis, that the APC lawmakers do not exist in the eyes of the law.
The caretaker committee chairman of the Rivers State APC, Chief Tony Okocha, who addressed newsmen in Port Harcourt, said the statement of the governor was set on re-writing the constitution of Nigeria by his attitude.
He said: “He has re-written the books. Elementary politics taught us there are three organs of government and their roles. And goes further to talk about the separation of powers and checks and balances.
“What the governor was implying clearly is that he is ruling Rivers State without laws. That Rivers State runs an executive arm and judiciary. So, what that implies is simply absurdity.
“You can now see the tendencies of a dictator. As an opposition party in Rivers State, we will not keep quiet, we will shout. Regrettably, the governor has taken up to this point and we will not take it.
“The governor said that the President’s intervention in Rivers State which he signed was not constitutional but a political solution. But he assented to it, not under duress. The agreement was signed in a friendly environment and the governor assented to the proclamation and had the opportunity to speak where he thanked Mr President.
“So, nobody forced him to sign the proclamation. He did it willingly. So, at what point did the governor realise that the resolution was a political matter?”
Unperturbed by the move of the opposition to unseat him, Governor Fubara has continued to carry out his constitutional duties in the state; commissioning projects.
Governor Fubara is set to mark his one year anniversary in office with commissioning of legacy projects
For the present, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, SSG, who doubles as the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Tuesday, unveiled a 20-day long programme of activities which kick start next Tuesday.
Danagogo, who briefed newsmen, said: “To mark this first anniversary, there will be a few projects to be commissioned and other activities.
“We will start on May 14, and on that day, we will be commissioning the Old Bori Road which is to serve as an alternative to the East-West Road currently under construction.
“On May 15, commissioning of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road will take place and on May 16, flag-off of the Elele-Omoku Road. On May 17, is the commissioning of Dualised Emohua-Kalabari Road.”
With Additional Report From The Vanguard