By Charles Maduka
Four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who had earlier withdrawn from the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara have reversed their position and declared support for the proceedings.
The lawmakers are the Minority Leader, Sylvanus Nwankwo; Peter Abbey, representing Degema Constituency; Barile Nwakoh of Khana Constituency I; and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II. They announced their decision during a live broadcast from the frontage of the Assembly complex.
Explaining the reversal, Nwankwo said the lawmakers initially appealed for a political solution to the crisis between the Assembly and the governor, but claimed that the governor and his deputy failed to pursue dialogue and instead continued public attacks against the House. Based on this, he said the impeachment process should continue.
Nwakoh and Amadi also said they decided to back the impeachment after concluding that the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, showed no readiness to resolve the crisis through dialogue.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex and alleged expenditure of public funds without legislative approval.
Although the four lawmakers had earlier stepped back from the process to allow room for reconciliation, members of the Assembly have maintained that the impeachment is constitutional and necessary to address the political crisis in the state. With the latest U-turn, the impeachment move has gained renewed momentum within the House.
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