Governor Similaye Fubara of Rivers state has demanded to know his offence following the attempt by the state house of Assembly to impeach him. I have not committed any offence to warrant my removal from office, the governor who is barely six months in office, after his swearing on May 29 this year, said on Monday as the dispute between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike deepened, and the plot to sack him from office becomes stronger.
Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was instrumental to Fubara becoming govrnor in the oil rich state, but serious crisis has been linked to both as the stake for the control of the oil rich state notches higher.
The former governor had in May this year promised not to meddle in the administration of Governor Fubara, but, this has not been so, considering what happened in the last few days, with watchers of politic in the state accussing the FCT ministr of plotiimg to oust his successor, by using the State House of Assembly, because of the alleged rift between them over who is in control of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the party that brought the incumbent and his predecessor to power.
Early today, some hoodlums believed to be supporters of the governor set the House of Assembly ablaze to stop the impeachment process on Fubara. The magazine learnt that the governor got wind of the plot early enough to forestall it.
But it was too late to save the Leader of Assembly, Edison Ehie, a staunch supporter of the governor who have now been impeached by some lawmakers, believed to be working hand in hand with the former governor.
The police and other security operatives have now been sent to take over the premises of the Assembly complex along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, the state capital to forestall the breakdown of law and order, the magazine learned from sources in the city.
Speaking after the incident, Governor Fubara stated that he has committed no offence to warrant his impeachment.
The governor made the assertion while adressing his supporters, whom he assured that his govrnment would deliver the dividends of democracy no matter the efforts of his detractors to stop him.
He challenged those behind his problems to be bold enough to tell Rivers people’s his offence to warrant his impeachment barely six month in office,
The defiant governor said: “Let them come out and tell Rivers people the offence I have committed to warrant any impeachment,” the governor said while addressing his supporters at the Assembly Complex.
“Let me assure the people of Rivers that I will continue to ensure that you get the dividends of democracy. At the appropriate time I will address the press.”
It was learned from competent sources in the state, that the impeachment notice was served on the governor by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly early on Monday before the arson took place.
The magazine learned that what caused the crisis of confidence between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, whom he rode to power, may not be unconnected with the latter’s quest to continue to control the party aftr he has left the office.
The former governor was also said to have been surprised that the governor is trying to dstroy some of his legacy projects and cancel some contracts awarded during his eight years tenure but have not been completed,
Instructively, less than a month after coming to office, Governor Fubara cancelled and re-awarded the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Unity Road project, for which his preecessor had already paid contractors 100 percent contract fee.
Even though the govrnor did not openly criticised former Governor Wike for the contract failure, political watchers in the state told the magazine that the governor’s action was a veiled disapproval on how the contract was shoddily handled by those he believed are close associates of the FCT minister.
What Govrnor Fubara said: “What I have seen here today leaves much to be desired, given that the immediate past administration had good intentions for the people of Andoni.
“The last administration made so much commitment to even making 100 per cent payment to ensure quick delivery of the project before the end of its tenure, unfortunately, the contractor did otherwise.
“We are left with no option than to remove the big elephant behind the slow pace of work on this project just like President Bola Tinubu removed the big elephant behind fuel subsidy.”
The governor had since reawarded the multi-billion road contract to another contractor.
