The House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, on Thursday has formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The Speaker labeled the Governor a threat to democracy, due to an alleged deliberate refusal to follow constitutional protocols.
Sir Siminalayi Fubara and Professor Ngozi Odu are a threat to our democracy. If they are allowed to continue this way, I fear for what will become of democratic governance in Rivers State – Martins Amaewhule, Rivers Speaker
Speaker Martins Amaewhule has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of gross misconduct, over the refusal of the Governor to present the state’s budget to the 10th Assembly.
The Speaker also alleged that the Governor is currently awarding contracts and spending taxpayers’ money without any authorized appropriation law.
Nothing is holding the government from presenting the budget; he deliberately chose not to… they are moving from place to place, spending money without approval – Martins Amaewhule
This is the second attempt by the current Assembly to remove Fubara, over gross misconduct and unconstitutional spending.
Amaewhule also claimed the Governor had openly mocked the legislature, calling them a toothless bulldog and allegedly claimed nothing would happen if he bypassed them.
The rift, which stated in late 2023, has survived multiple peace attempts by President Bola Tinubu. Despite several meetings at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the peace pacts have failed to reconcile the executive and legislative arms.
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