Olushola Omogbehin
As the political war in Rivers State gains momentum, leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC and civil society organisations, have demanded the immediate intervention of the National Assembly.
In a protest on Friday at the APC Secretariat, Abuja, they urged National Assembly to invoke Section 11(4) of the Constitution to assume the Rivers State House of Assembly’s functions while pointing at the assembly’s “total loss of credibility and legitimacy.”
Condemning the assembly’s current impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, they described it it as a “reckless abuse of power” threatening democracy.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly has lost all credibility due to persistent abuse of legislative powers and a desperate impeachment plot.”
According to the spokesperson of APC Leaders’ Forum, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka, the impeachment by the assembly is no longer oversight but a vendetta to destabilise governance and silence is now complicity.
Comrade Blessing who is the coordinator of the civil society group, said: ”No shred of evidence shows gross misconduct by Governor Fubara—the allegations are pure political fiction. The assembly’s procedural lawlessness and disregard for court orders make it unfit for duty.”
The group accused the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of fueling the crisis.
They also alleged that the lawmakers collected humongous money for constituency funds, luxury SUVs, and a year’s advance salary per lawmaker.
“We call on Nigerians to mobilise peacefully at the National Assembly and crush this legislative anarchy,” Ibama urged.
Speaking further, Ibama said “Governor Fubara has shown prudence for our people—Rivers won’t be a sacrificial lamb to political desperation.”
