- Task lawmakers on peace, unity, development over personal, partisan ambitions
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Rivers State Elders and Leadership Forum (RELF) has described the reasons advanced by the State House of Assembly for the impeachment process launched against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu as awfully weak and lacking constitutional weight.
Reacting to latest development in the oil-rich State’s political landscape, RELF said the process appears to be driven by narrow personal interests rather than genuine concern for good governance.
According to a statement issued on Friday in Port Harcourt, and signed by its Acting Chairman, Dr. Gabriel Toby, the Forum condemned the impeachment procerdings, noting that the exercise is a grave constitutional process and should not be reduced to a tool for political vendetta or factional battles.
Toby, who is a former Deputy Governor of the state, said: “Impeachment is a serious constitutional process, not a tool for political vendettas or factional struggles. The reasons so far advanced in support of this action are disturbingly weak, lacking substance, public interest justification, or constitutional weight. They appear driven by narrow personal interests rather than genuine concern for good governance.”
The Forum reminded the lawmakers that Governor Fubara’s mandate was freely given by the people of Rivers State and can only be challenged in strict compliance with the provisions of the Constitution.
It also warned that the path being taken by the House of Assembly could further deepen the political crisis in the state, noting that Rivers State is yet to fully recover from the emergency rule previously imposed before the impeachment proceedings were resumed.
While urging the Assembly to retrace its steps and prioritise the peace, unity, and development of the state over personal or partisan ambitions, RELF said: “We warn that the current course of action risks deepening political divisions, eroding public trust in democratic institutions, and further destabilising an already fragile polity.”
Going forward, the Rivers Elders urged the Lawmakers to immediately halt the impeachment process and place the collective interest, peace, and progress of Rivers State above all other considerations.
