Rivers Assembly realigns, shelves Fubara plot, impeaches pro-Wike Speaker, others

Crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly took a new twist, Monday, as pro-Nyesom Wike lawmakers realigned midway in their plot to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu through impeachment, and instead impeached the erstwhile Speaker, Hon. Matthew Amaewhule.

The realigned lawmakers who now formed a majority of 26 pro-Fubara legislators also inaugurated a new Speaker, Hon. Edison Ehie, the former pro-Fubara House Majority Leader who was earlier removed from his position in the wake of the crisis.

The pro-Wike dominated state Assembly had earlier moved to suspend all eight others loyal to the governor. However, by mid-Monday, about 18 of the 24, who were against the governor, had reportedly realigned which brought the pro-Fubara lawmakers to 26, as they subsequently impeached the former Speaker and Wike supporter, Amaehwule.

It would be recalled that earlier, Monday, embattled Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara had staged a fight to re-establish control of the Government House by sacking two of his prominent aides amid allegations of in-house scheming by key officials of the administration said to be loyal to now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

This follows the decision of the State House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings on the governor following reported rift with immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike, the estranged chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The State Assembly complex was also the subject of fire incident, Sunday night, as suspected political thugs had stormed the facility and set it alight in an attempt to stall planned impeachment proceedings to be served on the governor by the legislators.

Governor has been in a rift with Wike over the latter refusal to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the February 22, 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar.

Wike who openly worked against Atiku and PDP in the presidential election bagged his reward of a ministerial appointment in the President Bola Tinubu government, amid further claims that the former Rivers Governor is also aiming for the 2027 election.

Since the conclusion of the 2023 poll, the State Executive Committee of the PDP has remained loyal to Wike, while the governor has continued to recognise Atiku and the PDP National body.

Attempts by the PDP National body to remove both Wike and the Rivers State Executive committee fro the party have been blocked by court injunctions, with the latest obtained by the state exco, last September.

On Monday, as the State House proceeded with its impeachment proceedings on Fubara, the embattled governor responded by sacking his Chief of Staff, Mr. Chidi Amadi, and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Government House, Promise Wosu, over reasons yet to be disclosed.

Mr. Amadi, until his appointment, was the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Meanwhile, after Fubara stormed the Assembly complex mid-way through his impeachment proceedings by the lawmakers to warn against the move, the action appeared to have made an impact, as the legislators realigned and shelved impeachment proceedings.

The earlier sacked House Majority Leader and pro-Fubara member, Hon. Ehi was elected Speaker to replace the impeached Wike-loyal lawmaker, Hon. Amaewhule, who was touted as a possible replacement for Fubara, if the impeachment plot had gone according to plan.

Amaewhule had supervised Edison Ehi’s removal as House majority Leader earlier for blocking moves to impeach Gov. Fubara.

In other actions taken by the new-look House, all 23 chairmen of the state’s local government areas (LGAs) were sacked, in addition to that of the Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice Simeon Amadi.

The appointment of the chief judge of a state is usually made by the governor on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which in turn is subject to confirmation by the state’s House of Assembly.

The Ousted Justice Amadi had succeeded Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra in May 2021, after the latter attained the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Former Governor Nyesom Wike had appointed Amadi as chief judge when he was the third-ranked judge in the Rivers State High Court, claiming that the appointment of a substantive chief judge of a state was not in hierarchical order but on the criteria to be considered by the NJC.

Meanwhile, reacting to the crisis rocking the House of assembly, the Rivers Police Command said it has now commenced ‘swift security actions on security situations’ at the Assembly complex, last Sunday night.

“The Rivers State Police Command has commenced swift security actions on security situations that occurred at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.

“Anyone found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted. Further development will be communicated to the general public, please,” the state police command posted on X on Monday.

Confirming the election of a new Speaker for the state House of Assembly, Monday, Governor Fubara took to his Twitter (Now X) handle to congratulate Hon. Ehi.

“Congratulations Mr. Speaker,” Fubara wrote on X, Monday.

Also, reacting, Elder Statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark blamed Nyesom Wike for the governor’s ordeal.

“I have been greatly disturbed by the reported developments in Rivers state in the last 24 hours,” Clark said.

“I have been reliably informed that there is a plot to unlawfully remove the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, who has spent only about 5 months in office.

“I understand the sad episode is being orchestrated by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

“And that the intention is to remove the Governor, force his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu to resign, and install the Speaker of the House of Assembly, another Ikwerre person as the governor of the State.

“Let me warn strongly, we won’t allow that to happen!”

In his first official statement after election as the new Speaker, 10th Assembly, Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison described the crisis as ‘regrettable.’

“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of responsibility that I address you regarding recent events in our esteemed Assembly. As your chosen representatives, we have a sacred duty to uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and dedication to public service.

“Regrettably, it has come to my attention that some members of our Assembly have fallen short of these principles. In light of their actions, which undermine the trust and faith you have bestowed upon us, I have taken the difficult decision to suspend the defaulted members from their legislative duties.

“Rest assured, this decision was not made lightly. We are committed to ensuring that the Rivers State House of Assembly continues to be a beacon of hope and progress for all our people. We will work tirelessly to restore your trust in our institution and fulfill the promises we made to you.

“I urge you, my fellow citizens, to remain steadfast in your support for a united and prosperous Rivers State. Together, we will overcome challenges and build a future where honesty, accountability, and transparency prevail.

“Thank you for your unwavering trust and understanding. Let us move forward, hand in hand, towards a brighter tomorrow,” Ehie said.

Earlier, Monday, embattled Governor Fubara hadf told his supporters at the State Assembly complex mid-way through his impeachment proceedings by the lawmakers that he is ‘not bothered’ as he blamed his ordeal on ‘selfish reasons’ orchestrated by some unnamed politicians.

The governor who at the state assembly complex to challenge the lawmakers’ action accused police officers of repelling him with gunshots and water cannons.

“It is very, very unfortunate that we should be experiencing this sort of thing again after about nine years ago when we had a similar experience.

“I got information, distressing information very late yesterday, and I said this morning I would come and see for myself. Anybody who knows me knows I am a simple person. I can never, never for any reason, even if I am aware there is a plot to impeach me for whatever reason… I am not bothered about it, but I am worried that a facility like this that we used taxpayers’ money to build would be destroyed for selfish reasons, just to please somebody,” Fubara said.