By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Two lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly have called on their colleagues to “temper justice with mercy” and explore alternatives to the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, from office.
The lawmakers are Honourable Sylvanus Nwankwo, the House Minority Leader who also represents Omuma State Constituency, and Hon. Peter Abbey, who represents Degema State Constituency.
In a press conference on Monday, January 12, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, the lawmakers said the move followed appeals from elders and leaders both within and outside the state to halt the impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy.
Nwankwo 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.”
On his part, Abbey 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.
However, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Alabo Enemi George, insisted that the impeachment process was on course.
George, while responding to a question during an interview on whether the House would back down on the impeachment threat, said nothing would stop the ongoing process and went further to state that the governor and his deputy had already been served.
Recall that the Rivers State House of Assembly began impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy during plenary on Thursday, January 8.
