The Rivers State House of Assembly has shut the door on any potential out-of-court settlements or political interventions regarding the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh.
In a firm stance that signals a point of no return for the state’s legislature, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi George, declared on Thursday that the lawmakers are no longer interested in “political solutions” that have historically failed to produce lasting peace.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, George dismissed the narrative that the move to oust the Governor is merely a political pressure tactic. He argued that reducing the Assembly’s constitutional duties to mere politics undermines the sanctity of the legislature.
“Very sincerely, I doubt that because we’ve had one too many political solutions… It demeans, diminishes the institution of the Rivers House of Assembly if you say that everything that we do is because of politics… Right now, what we’re talking about is the law,” George stated.
The spokesperson didn’t mince words when describing Governor Fubara’s alleged repeated infractions, labeling the governor a “recidivist” to explain why the House has lost patience.
“A recidivist is somebody who commits the same crime over and over again. He’s punished or forgiven, he comes back, he commits the same crime,” George explained, adding pointedly, “So what’s the need for a political solution?”
A central point of friction mentioned by the spokesperson involves the management of public funds. George highlighted a recent incident on December 30, 2025, where lawmakers reportedly rejected a ₦100,000 “Christmas gift” credited to their accounts on the Governor’s orders.
The rejection, he explained, was a matter of legal survival rather than the amount offered. “Within that principle, there is no constitutional provision for that. We didn’t reject it because the money is too small, we rejected it because I don’t want to go to prison.”
He emphasized that the lawmakers view themselves as custodians of the state’s wealth. “These funds do not belong to my father, mother, or sister; they belong to the people of Rivers State, in the nooks and crannies, who will pay for it.”
The spokesperson also touched on the history of failed mediations, specifically referencing previous efforts by President Bola Tinubu to broker peace between the Governor and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. George suggested that the governor had “insulted” previous interventions by failing to honor agreements.
“The first time the president intervened, he was insulted. They said it was a political solution that was not binding. The second time, the president went through hell to assemble stakeholders, to broker this peace, and then somebody goes back and reneges,” George said.
Concluding with a warning that the Presidency should not be viewed as a permanent shield for executive lawlessness, he added: “You can’t keep breaking the law and expecting the president to come to your rescue.”
The current impeachment notice, signed by 26 lawmakers, marks the second attempt to remove Fubara within a year. The process began in earnest during a plenary led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, where Majority Leader Major Jack presented a list of “gross misconduct” allegations citing direct breaches of the Nigerian Constitution.
Amaewhule confirmed that the Governor will be formally served within the next seven days. This follow-up attempt comes months after a March 2025 crisis that was temporarily quelled by a presidential intervention, which allowed the governor a six-month reprieve that has now clearly expired.
