Two Rivers Assembly Members Pull Out of Impeachment Plot

Two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have pulled out of the impeachment plot against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, calling for a peaceful resolution of the political crisis.

Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuma State Constituency) and Peter Abbey (Degema State Constituency) rescinded their earlier support for the impeachment and pleaded with their colleagues to follow the path of peace in the larger interest of Rivers State.

The shift came as prominent South-south leaders, under the aegis of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PAN-DEF), yesterday, inaugurated a Peace and Reconciliation Committee chaired by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, to halt the escalating political crisis in Rivers State.

The South-south leaders, including former military governor of the state and Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Papapraye Diete-Spiff; former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Co-Chairman of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Obong Victor Attah; and former deputy governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, expressed optimism that the Agabi-led panel would achieve genuine reconciliation.

Nonetheless, Nigerian professionals in the diaspora warned that the renewed impeachment move against Fubara and Odu was a political project that threatened democratic order in the oil-rich state.

Expressing their change of mind, Nwankwo and Abbey told their colleagues to exercise restraint and seek an amicable resolution to the ongoing impeachment proceedings against the governor.

Speaking with journalists at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Nwankwo stated that the Assembly had issued a notice of impeachment against the governor and his deputy, but said the development had necessitated deep reflection and wide consultations.

Nwankwo, the Minority Leader, said, “We have called this press conference to appeal to our colleagues to temper justice with mercy and to see how this matter can be resolved outside the impeachment proceedings.”

He explained that the decision to make a public appeal was informed by numerous interventions from respected elders and leaders within and outside Rivers State, who had called for restraint and reconciliation.

Admitting that the governor and his deputy might have acted in ways that infringed on the provisions of the constitution, Nwankwo stressed that dialogue and political wisdom should prevail over confrontation.

Abbey also said the appeal was guided by a desire to prevent further political tension in the state.

Abbey revealed that the lawmakers had also received calls from political leaders and stakeholders across the country, urging the Assembly to exercise caution.

He, however, stated that any amicable settlement would require cooperation from the governor.

According to Abbey, “We plead with our colleagues to reconsider, provided the governor, too, has a role to play. He must ensure that he does not further infringe on the constitution so that there can be an amicable settlement.”

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