Four days after an impeachment notice was raised on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara last Thursday, the governor is yet to receive the notice, despite claims suggesting otherwise.
This development came on the same day the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, the apex socio-political organisation of the South-South zone, inaugurated a seven-member peace and reconciliation committee to address the crisis between the governor and the lawmakers.
The committee is chaired by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, and has been given a two-week deadline to resolve the standoff.
At the same time, two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly appealed to their colleagues to suspend the impeachment process against the governor and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, has raised concerns over the impeachment moves, describing them as a direct assault on President Bola Tinubu.
However, the North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum has rejected calls for the resignation of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, warning that such demands could disrupt ongoing development efforts in Abuja.
Explaining why the impeachment notice has not been served, a reliable source within government circles said the governor had been extremely busy since returning from an official trip to Europe.
“The governor only returned to the country from his Europe visit on Saturday night. He was in the church on Sunday for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Immediately after the service, he rushed to Abuja and is yet to return,” the source said.
The source added that the governor had not been physically present in the state long enough for the notice to be served.
“There is no way they could have served him the letter of the so-called impeachment when he has not been around for days. The report by some people that he has been served with the notice cannot be correct,” the source stated.
It would be recalled that 26 lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who are reportedly aligned with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy during plenary last Thursday over allegations of gross misconduct.
However, indications have emerged that the impeachment threat may not succeed.
A respected elder from the Niger Delta disclosed that efforts were ongoing behind the scenes to halt the process.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel for the governor. There is always light over darkness, right over impunity,” the elder said.
The Ijaw leader further assured that the situation would soon be resolved.
“We are doing a lot of things in the background that I cannot disclose. However, I can assure you that the impeachment process will not proceed. By God’s grace, all these things will be settled,” he added.
There are also unconfirmed reports that President Bola Tinubu, as leader of the APC, has directed the Rivers State House of Assembly to immediately suspend all impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy.
The President was also said to have instructed the lawmakers to consult with the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, for further guidance, while warning them against actions that could further deepen divisions in the state.
