By Kamsi Anayo
The Rivers State House of Assembly has formally withdrawn impeachment notice against Gov. Siminalayi Fubara.
In the notice of withdrawal read on the house floor during plenary on Wednesday, the lawmakers loyal to the former governor of the State, Barr. Nysom Wike said the decision was made out of respect for President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the political landscape in Rivers State had been characterized by tension, primarily attributed to a power struggle between governor Fubara and Wike, who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
In a series of events in the last two months, parallel sittings emerged, an impeachment move against the governor was plotted, the Assembly complex was attacked, and a wave of resignations swept through the cabinet of Fubara.
On Wednesday President Bola Tinubu intervened in a meeting with Fubara and the Wike faction and issued a controversial eight-point resolution on the issue which has triggered widespread condemnation.
The meeting directed that the matters instituted in the courts by Gov. Fubara, and his team, in respect of the political crisis in the state, shall be withdrawn immediately.
“All impeachment proceedings initiated against the Governor of Rivers State by the Rivers State House of Assembly should be dropped immediately
“The leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly as led by the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule shall be recognized alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP.
“The remunerations and benefits of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their staff must be reinstated immediately and the governor shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference and/or hindrance from the Executive arm of government.
“The governor shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The names of all commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council who resigned their appointments because of the political crisis in the state should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval.
“There should not be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers state. The dissolution of the local government administration is null and void and shall not be recognized.”
Nigerians have expressed concern that the resolutions violated the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and made governance to appear transactional.
