Rivers Lawmakers Commence Impeachment Process Against Fubara, Odu

THE Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday, January 8, commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu.
This comes months after the second process was thwarted by the declaration of a state of emergency in the state and suspension of the duo and all the lawmakers for six months by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, last year.
The first such move led to the burning , and later, pulling down of whatever remained of the Assmbly complex last year.
During plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, which was broadcast live by a few television channels, Majority Leader, Major Jack, read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Fubara, which they alleged was against the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and signed by 26 members and to be served on Fubara within the next seven days.
Relying on Section 188 of the Constitution, Jack read out seven points of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara, including the demolition of the Assembly Complex; extra budgetary spending; withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission; and refusal to obey the Supreme Court on the financial autonomy of the House.
Thereafter, Amaewhule said the notice would be served on Fubara within seven days.
Earlier, Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, also brought read out a notice of gross misconduct against Odu, including reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds; obstruction of the House of Assembly from performing her constitutional duties, as outlined by the 1999 Constitution; conniving to allow unauthorised persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the legitimate House of Assembly; approaching another group of people for budgetary approval, instead of the legitimate Assembly; as well as seizure of salaries and allowances accruing to the Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
The recent development marks renewed hostilities between Fubara and his estranged political godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The lawmakers had on December 5, last year, announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), followed days later by Fubara and Odu.
But this does not seem to have changed the toxic poilitical atmosphere in the state, as the battle for the soul of the state between Fubara and Wike continued.
Over two-thirds of lawmakers are loyal to Wike.