Group Warns Against Fubara’s Ouster
Embattled Gov Jets To Abuja
THE Rivers State House of Assembly, on Monday, October 30, elected Edison Ehie as its new Speaker.
Edison was reportedly elected by 26 members of the assembly during plenary, following the suspension of some key officers of the house.
The new Speaker emerged after the impeachment of his predecessor, Martins Amaehule, by 26 members of the 32-member Assembly.
Recall that the new Speaker was earlier suspended as the Majority Leader at an earlier sitting presided over by Amaehule, where a notice of impeachment was purportedly served on Governor Siminalaye Fubara.
The drama started on Sunday night, when some unidentified persons blew up some parts of the Assembly Complex with dynamites.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt shortly after his emergence, the new Speaker thanked his colleagues for rising to the challenge and finding him worthy to pilot the affairs of the House, promising to discharge his duty without fear or favour and to uphold principles of equity, justice and fairness.
“My commitment to Rivers people is that I will be just and fair to all and sundry; I will ensure that the rule of law takes its course.
I will not betray my colleagues. I will not betray Rivers people. I will not betray my constituency.
“I will ensure the independence of the Rivers State House of Assembly is adhered to, with mutual respect for the judiciary and executive arms of government.”
Edison vowed to give fair hearing to suspended members of the House, working through through the Committee on Petitions.
He subsequently announced that the House had adjourned sine dine (indefinitely), following a circular served by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to commence an indefinite nationwide strike.
In a reaction, a pressure group, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL), has warned against any plot to impeach Fubara, describing the move as “an attack on democracy.”
The group made its position known in a statement signed by Goodluck Ibem,President General of Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders, Iniobong Sampson, Leader of South-South Youth Coalition and Junaid Abubakar of Arewa Youth Vanguard For Good Governance, on Monday, October 30, in Awka, Anambra State.
While recalling that Fubara was equally attacked, using life bullets, teargas and other weapons, CONYL stated: “We condemn, in strong terms, the attack on Fubara and the plot to impeach him, using the state House of Assembly.
“It is clear that some people want him out of power because he has refused to share the commonwealth of the good people of Rivers State to a few. He has not committed any impeachable offence and we, the people, say a capital ‘NO’ to their evil plot. Clearly, some anti-democratic forces are at work. We warn them to steer clear of Rivers.
“It is unfortunate that some security agents and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly allowed themselves to be used by these individuals who do no mean well for the state.”
The statement said Fubara was elected by the people of Rivers and should be allowed to do the job freely without any form of interference from any quarters, calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest and prosecute those who allegedly attacked Fubara using dangerous weapons.
CONYL also urged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to resist being used by anyone to cause disaffection in the state, charging Fubara to stand firm and defend the mandate given to him by the good people of the state.
“The good people of Rivers should stand solidly behind their governor, who means well and is fully prepared to move the state to another level of growth and development.
“On our part, we will mobilise two million Nigerian youths to support Fubara’s quest for effective service delivery. The battle to defend Fubara is a battle to defend our democracy,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Fubara, in the morning of Tuesday, October 31, flew to Abuja with top Rivers PDP chieftains, ostensibly on the invitation of or to brief the Presidency about his ordeal.
It was also expected that he would confer with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the unfolding drama and plot to remove him, even as protesters laid siege on the gate to Government House, Port Harcourt, to forestall the moves to impeach him.
