The political war in Rivers State took a an alarming dimension yesterday as members of the state House of Assembly initiated impeachment moves along partisan lines, with Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule; his deputy, Dumle Maol, and Chief Judge of the State, Justice Samuel Chibuzor Amadi, as the first casualties of the impasse.
However eight members of the state legislature loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara impeached the Speaker and his deputy.
Not satisfied, the eight lawmakers suspended the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Amadi, and directed the governor to appoint an Acting Chief Judge for the state.
In a counter attack, 24 members of the state assembly loyal to FCT minister and immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, same yesterday signed a notice of impeachment against Governor Fubara.
Meanwhile, the eight lawmakers who sat in one of the buildings in Government House, Port Harcourt, elected the impeached Leader of the House, Edison Ehie, as the new Speaker.
Governor Fubara and chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, congratulated Ehie who was Deputy Speaker of the 9th House of Assembly, on his emergence as Speaker of the House.
Ihunwo, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, expressed hope that the new Speaker will further improve the relationship between the legislature and the executive, and provide more opportunities for the growth of Rivers youths.
But while the governor’s camp were relishing the ouster of the Speaker, his deputy and the Chief Judge, the 24 lawmakers loyal to Wike were signing the notice of impeachment against Governor Fubara.
Gunshots and teargas were reportedly fired within the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex as the lawmakers began the impeachment process on the governor.
This is just as the governor challenged the State House of Assembly, to show justification for the plot to impeach him, insisting that he has not committed any impeachable offence.
The impeachment notice came few hours after the lawmakers impeached the House leader, Hon. Edison Ehie.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, who announced the development during plenary where the leader of the House was impeached, directed the Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi, to serve impeachment notice on Fubara.
Noting that the action was in line with section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, the Speaker who was later impeached by eight lawmakers said, “Distinguished colleagues, in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, when a notice of impeachment is delivered to Mr. Speaker, that notice will have to be forwarded to the governor as it was presented for his reply.
“On that note, Clerk, do forward this notice of impeachment to the governor, ensure that he gets it and allow the constitution to take its cause.”
Amaewhule had earlier accused the Rivers State Government House and the impeached leader of the House, Ehie, of masterminding the explosion that occurred in the House of Assembly complex on Sunday night.
He said, “The hallowed chamber of this House was burnt down and the information reaching us is that this was supervised from the Government House of Rivers State and Edison Ehie, the majority leader of the House, and his cohorts.”
Reacting to the impeachment plot against him, Governor Fubara said he has not committed any offence to warrant his removal by the state House of Assembly.
Fubara who spoke during a visit to the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly after it was razed by suspected arsonists condemned the burning of sections of the building of such an important public institution built with taxpayers’ money.
The governor described as unfortunate attempt by some disgruntled persons to forcefully take over control of the State House of Assembly.
He accused a serving deputy commissioner of Police (DCP) in-charge of Operations in the state of masterminding an attack on his convoy while he was going to the House of Assembly complex.
Fubara said, “The truth is that everybody who knows me knows that I am a peaceful person. I can never ever, even if I am aware that there is a plot to impeach me for whatever reason, be part of such destruction.
“I am worried that a facility like this that we used taxpayers’ money to build will be destroyed for selfish reasons just to please somebody. From what I have seen, even the security is compromised because they were shooting at me directly. The DC operations was shooting at me,”
Describing as null and void any illegal legislative action that has been taken by some members who earlier held a plenary session, the governor said, “Let it be on record; whoever masterminded the attack at the Assembly is trying to divert attention.”
Addressing his supporters in front of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, Fubara commended youths of the state for standing up to protect the interest of the state, saying he is not scared about impeachment but such action had to be properly explained and justified.
The governor continued: “If Siminalayi Fubara is impeached, I won’t be the first; neither will I be the last. But what is important is that any attempt that is not justified will be resisted. Let them come out and tell Rivers people the offence that I have committed to warrant impeachment.
“But my happiness this morning is that the people of Rivers State, represented by every one of you here, are with us. I can go home and sleep. Let me assure Rivers people that we will continue to defend them, protect you people and ensure that they will enjoy the dividends of democracy.”
Before the eruption of the crisis, suspected arsonists on Sunday night invaded the Rivers State House of Assembly and set the main building on fire using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
The development may not be unconnected with an alleged plot to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In the meantime, the Assembly complex has been taken over by the police, with over 17 armoured vehicles and stern looking security personnel stationed around it.
Though there had been relative inactivity in the state, Fubara had earlier inaugurated 14 commissioners and assigned portfolios to them.
Just last week after much criticism from opposition political parties, the governor inaugurated additional five commissioners who were screened by the House of Assembly.