On Sunday night, the Rivers State House of Assembly suffered a huge fire incident as some yet-to-be-known political thugs moved into action over the alleged plans to impeach the incumbent governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Leader of the House, Edison Ehie.
The development follows suit after a civil society group, Coalition of Democratic Vanguard (CDV) gave a strong warning to the past governor of the state, who is currently the FCT alongside his allies over the plot to trample upon civic rights in pushing for an impeachment of Fubara and Ehie.
Some eyewitnesses reported that a white Hilux van invaded the premises of the assembly at exactly 9.00 p.m. on Sunday night and disarmed the security operatives who were in charge of duty at this exact time before they went on in carrying the act.
It was also reported that the incident happened in the assembly complex, which was opposite the Headquarters of the State Command Police, on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. Also, the lawmakers have already concluded plans to impeach Fubar and Ehie in their next sitting following some undisclosed issues before the incident occurred.
It was also reported that over 17 security trucks and four Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) with over 50 federal security personnel were stationed at the facility.
However, it’s not clear if the incident was related to the fight between Fubara and Wike. It was also alleged that the Rivers Government House Aide De Camp has been sacked.
The coalition, in the statement signed by Mr Thompson Orumbo (Chairman) and Peter Nwabunna (Secretary), condemned any attempt to undermine the democratic process and urged all parties involved to respect the will of the people and prioritise the betterment of Rivers State.
The Statement Reads,
- At the core of any functioning democracy lies the principle of free and fair elections, which provide citizens with the opportunity to choose their leaders, and Rivers people have chosen Sir Siminalayi Fubara. Impeachment attempts should be rooted in concrete evidence of wrongdoing and carried out only through legitimate channels, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- The Coalition emphasises that any attempts to impeach Governor Fubara and Ehie must adhere to the democratic principles, if not, it would be resisted by Rivers people.
- Rivers State has made significant strides in the pursuit of development and stability under the leadership of Governor Fubara. The governor has championed policies and initiatives that have positively impacted the lives of the citizens. Political squabbles and power struggles should not hinder progress, and the people’s mandate must be respected.
- Nyesom Wike and his co-travellers prioritise the interests of the people and set aside personal and political interests.