Impeach Fubara: Opposition Lawmakers Coalition, led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, strongly condemned an alleged impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The lawmakers, in a fiery statement, dismissed the purported impeachment proceedings as unconstitutional and a desperate attempt to destabilize the state, saying, “No one can impeach Fubara”.
Hon. Ugochinyere, speaking on behalf of the coalition, emphasized that a valid court judgment remains in effect, barring any impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara. He described the efforts of pro-impeachment lawmakers as an act of political desperation, orchestrated to serve external interests rather than the welfare of Rivers people.
“There is still a valid court judgment barring them from commencing any impeachment move, and as long as that order remains, they can only dream of removing Fubara to help their political masturbation. But in reality, Fubara is above their dreams,” Ugochinyere stated in his strongly-worded address.
The opposition leader accused pro-impeachment lawmakers of engaging in “local political blackmail and propaganda.” He pointed to their previous Supreme Court victory in the budget dispute, arguing that Governor Fubara had duly complied by presenting the budget. However, he noted that the lawmakers deliberately absconded from the presentation, exposing what he described as their true intent: to inflict hardship on Rivers State residents.
Impeach Fubara
“The Governor wrote another letter to them, and they claimed to have gone on recess on Friday evening. Now, suddenly, the same people who went on recess on Friday wake up on Monday to claim they have commenced a purported impeachment—just to distract from the slated budget presentation billed for this week,” Ugochinyere continued.
He further accused the lawmakers of attempting to manipulate the judiciary by fabricating allegations against the Chief Judge, who had previously been cleared by the same lawmakers. He described this move as a failed attempt to coerce the judiciary into supporting an “anti-Rivers plot.”
The impeachment push has been fueled by accusations against Governor Fubara, including alleged refusal to present the state budget. However, opposition lawmakers argue that the narrative is baseless since the governor has repeatedly made efforts to present the budget, only to be met with resistance from the same lawmakers seeking his removal.
“How can you fail to receive a budget, run away on the agreed date, claim to have gone on recess, and then suddenly, from your hideout, claim to have commenced a nonexistent impeachment on the same grounds of refusal to present a budget—when you are the ones running away from receiving the budget?” Ugochinyere queried.
He described the impeachment plot as an “imaginary offense” being pushed by external political forces seeking to install a puppet government in Rivers State. He alleged that the ultimate goal of the plotters is to install a pro-Wike speaker who would serve as a proxy governor for the former Rivers State governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“This move is dead on arrival,” Ugochinyere declared, asserting that Rivers people would reject any attempt to subvert the democratic process.
Despite the escalating tension, the opposition lawmakers urged Rivers residents to remain calm and go about their daily activities. They reassured the public that the impeachment effort was nothing more than a “kindergarten blackmail” that would ultimately collapse under its own weight.
“We urge the people of Rivers State to go about their business as this latest kindergarten blackmail is dead on arrival and will amount to nothing,” Ugochinyere concluded.
