By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Two more members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have urged their colleagues to withdraw the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The House had, on January 8, begun proceedings to impeach the governor with a notice accusing Fubara of gross misconduct, citing allegations including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, and defiance of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.
According to TVC News, the two lawmakers, Barile Nwakoh, who represents Khana Constituency I, and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II, made the appeal on Wednesday, January 14.
Although they maintained that the governor and his deputy breached constitutional provisions, the lawmakers said their decision to seek a withdrawal of the impeachment move followed interventions by well-meaning leaders in the state.
The appeal came barely 24 hours after two other legislators made the same appeal and withdrew their support for the impeachment plot, urging their colleagues to suspend the move and explore alternative means of resolving the political crisis.
The lawmakers made the appeal on Monday, January 12, during a press conference in Port Harcourt, where the Minority Leader of the House and representative of Omuma State Constituency, Sylvanus Nwankwo, called on the Assembly to exercise restraint.
“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,” he said.
Nwankwo added that the intervention was prompted by appeals from elders and leaders within and outside the state.
With the latest development, four out of the 26 lawmakers who signed the notice of alleged misconduct have now expressed support for a peaceful resolution of the political impasse.
The Rivers State House of Assembly is expected to resume plenary on Thursday, January 15.
