In the video, the legislators appealed to members of the Assembly to temper justice with mercy and explore an amicable resolution to the crisis rocking the state legislature.
Two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn their support for the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, urging their colleagues to seek a political solution rather than pursue removal from office.
The lawmakers, Hon. Sylvanus Enyi Nwankwo, representing Omuma State Constituency and the Minority Leader of the Assembly, alongside Hon. Peter Abi of Degema State Constituency, made their position known in a video seen by SaharaReporters on Monday afternoon.
In the video, the legislators appealed to members of the Assembly to temper justice with mercy and explore an amicable resolution to the crisis rocking the state legislature.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen of the press. My name is Honorable Sylvanus Enyi Nwankwo. I represent Omuma State constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly,” Nwankwo said.
“And I’m also the Minority Leader of the 10th Assembly. My name is Honorable Peter Abi. and I represent Degema State constituency in the House of Assembly.”
Addressing the impeachment notice already issued against the governor and his deputy, the lawmakers said they convened the press briefing to formally appeal to their colleagues.
“Gentlemen, you are all aware that the Rivers State House of Assembly issued a notice of impeachment on the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State,” they said.
“But we have called this press conference to appeal to our fellow colleagues to dampen justice with mercy, and to see how we can resolve this matter apart from impeachment proceedings.”
They disclosed that pressure from elders and leaders within and outside Rivers State informed their decision to step back from the impeachment move.
“Having listened to so many pleas and calls from our elders and leaders, both within and outside the state, begging for leniency, we are calling on our colleagues to reconsider our step and see how this matter can be resolved amicably, even though the Governor and the Deputy Governor have infringed on the Constitution,” the lawmakers said.
Reiterating their position, they acknowledged alleged constitutional infractions but stressed the need for restraint.
“As the Minority Leader said, the Governor, yes, he 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,” they added.
The lawmakers further noted that appeals had come from prominent figures across the state and beyond, warning against irreversible political actions.
“We have received calls from leaders, from people in Rivers State and outside Rivers State, and we see that you don’t raise the axe and sweep it as you raise it,” they said.
They, however, insisted that Governor Fubara must also take responsibility by ensuring strict adherence to constitutional provisions going forward.
“So we plead with our colleagues to reconsider, to please reconsider, provided the Governor too has a role to play. He must make sure he does not infringe further on the Constitution, so that there can be an amicable settlement to the whole issue.”
The intervention by the two lawmakers comes amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, as the impeachment process against Governor Fubara and his deputy continues to generate controversy and deepen divisions within the House of Assembly.