By KINGSLEY IZEJIOBI
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has challenged those trying to impeach him to come with details of impeachable offenses he committed to justify their actions.
Governor Fubara who gave the challenge while addressing some of his supporters in government house Port Harcourt, said he is not afraid of any impeachment process.
The governor was reacting to plans by some members of the State House of Assembly to impeach him along with the majority leader of the Assembly.
It was also reported that some residents of the state have taken to the streets to protest the impeachment notice on the governor.
Within the last two days, the political atmosphere in Rivers State has been charged with impeachment and counter impeachment moves for and against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Amidst the impeachment and counter impeachment moves, the hallowed chamber of the State Assembly complex late Sunday night went up in flames for yet to be identified reason.
According to a statement by the director of communication in the Assembly, Mr James Soglus, an impeachment notice has been served on the governor, while four members of the Assembly, including majority leader have been suspended.
Another faction of the Assembly however in a counter impeachment, announced the removal of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, replacing him with Mr. Edison Ehie.
Reacting to the situation, Governor Siminalayi Fubara insisted that he remains firmly in charge of the State, saying that those who intend to impeach him must have substantial evidence to do so.
The governor alleged that some compromised security officers attempted to kill him while on inspection of the level of damage done at the Assembly complex.
In a short video that went viral, speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule was seen announcing the immediate removal of the leader of the State Assembly, Mr. Edison Ehie, a move which the House Committee Chairman on information, Mr. Victor Oko-Jumbo described as an exercise in futility.
Mr Oko-Jumbo, who claimed that there was an assassination attempt on the governor, gave insights on what transpired in the Assembly during the governor’s assessment tour of the damaged Assembly chambers.
As at the time of filing this report, Men of the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Security have taken over the Rivers State House of Assembly complex to avoid further escalation of the crisis.
It is however not clear if the attempt to impeach the governor has anything to do with the estranged relationship between the immediate past governor Nyesom Wike and the current governor Siminalayi Fubara.
