The Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum (RELEF) on Saturday expressed concern over the move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Ordu by the State House of Assembly.
The Acting Chairman of RELEF, Dr. Gabriel Toby, condemned the impeachment move in a statement in Port Harcourt.
The House had during an emergency plenary held on Wednesday sent an impeachment notice to the governor.
Toby warned that impeachment was a grave constitutional process and must not be deployed as “an instrument of political vendetta or factional rivalry.”
According to him, the reasons advanced by the lawmakers for the attempted removal of the governor are weak, insubstantial, and devoid of public interest justification or constitutional weight.
“The allegations against Governor Fubara appear to be driven by narrow personal interests rather than any sincere concern for good governance in the state.
“The governor’s mandate was freely given by the electorate and can only be questioned in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, due process, and clear, compelling, and verifiable grounds,” he stated.
The former deputy governor cautioned that the current course of action could deepen political divisions and erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
He added that it could further destabilise an already fragile political environment in the state.
“Rivers State has yet to fully recover from the political, social and institutional disruptions of the recent emergency rule.
“Our people are still bearing the consequences of that episode, and the present development risks reopening old wounds and heightening tensions,” he added.
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