Two lawmakers in the 32-member Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday called on their colleagues to stay action in the impeachment process initiated Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu.
Briefing the media in Port Harcourt, the state capital, the Minority Leader, Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Omuma state constituency, appealed to his fellow lawmakers to ‘temper justice with mercy’, and explore alternatives to the governor’s removal from office.
He said: ‘We have called this press conference to appeal to our colleagues to temper justice with mercy and to see how we can resolve this matter apart from impeachment proceedings.
‘That is why we are here this morning to appeal to the conscience of our fellow colleagues. Having listened to so many pleas, calls from our elders and leaders, both within and outside the state, begging for leniency
‘We are begging, calling on our colleagues to reconsider our step and see how this matter can be resolved amicably, even though the governor and deputy governor have infringed on the constitution, but we are appealing to them to reconsider our stand’.
His colleague, Hon. Peter Abbey (also of thePDP), who represents Degema state constituency, joined in the call for restraint, describing the situation as one that requires a human approach.
‘He (Fubara) has infringed on parts of the constitution, but we are human beings, and we, as members of the 10th assembly, want to plead with our colleagues to please reconsider’, he said.
Abbey said the governor also has a responsibility to de-escalate the crisis by ensuring that there are no further constitutional breaches, which he said could pave the way for a peaceful settlement.
Meanwhile, the timely intervention of the two lawmakers runs contrary to the position of the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Alabo Enemi George of the majority All Progressives Congress (APC), who insisted that the impeachment process was on course.
In an interview, George said that nothing would stop the ongoing process and went further to state that the governor and his deputy had already been served.
Seven members of the Assembly recently defected from the PDP to the APC, while 11 remain in the PDP.
There are four vacant seats in the House.
