You’re Illegitimate, Can’t Impeach Fubara – Rivers Elders Knock Pro-Wike Lawmakers

The renewed threat of impeachment against Governor Siminalayi Fubara by members of the state House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, has been rubbished by the Rivers State Elders’ Council.

Osun Defender reports that the pro-Wike lawmakers had on Saturday said they would not hesitate to impeach Fubara if it becomes the last resort to uphold the Constitution.

But the council berated them, saying they lacked the legitimacy to take any action because, according to the council, they had lost their seats by defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

A member of the Rivers Elders’ Council and pioneer spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, in an interview with PUNCH, described the impeachment threat as mere ranting.

Sara-Igbe noted that the lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the pro-Wike lawmakers was pending before the Court of Appeal.

He stated, “Well we are appearing before the Court of Appeal on April 8, 2024. When we appear, then we will know where they are. They are only ranting because they are an illegitimate House of Assembly.

“The governor himself does not have the power to legitimise them. For the sake of peace, he just gave them little recognition and they are now ranting and doing what they like.

“It is quite unfortunate. If you tell the governor the implication of these things he does not believe that these people that you think are making peace don’t mean well. But as I said, we are in court; so, let them continue to rant. We will see where it will end and the proud will be humiliated within a short while.

“Let them do whatever they like but I can assure you everything they are doing is illegal.”

On the call for Fubara to present the 2024 budget afresh, Sara-Igbe, “As far as we are concerned, all the eight-point agenda that was signed are illegal. And that is why we are in court to contest it. So, when a matter is before a court, it means the status quo remains.

“So, if they refuse to do that, then the court will take its own stand. You don’t take the laws into your own hands when you are in court. The governor cannot present any budget when we are in court.

“So, if they feel that they are more than the court, then the court should take a decision on it. But so far as we are concerned, we need the legal implication whether or not they are legitimate members of the House of Assembly.”