A coalition comprising the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) and members of the Ijaw ethnic group in Rivers State has called on the state House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
The demand follows the Governor’s alleged failure to present the 2024/2025 budget before the Assembly, despite ongoing government expenditures.
In a statement jointly signed by RRM’s Director General, Johnson Georgewill, and Secretary, Sarima Akpata, the coalition accused Governor Fubara of violating Supreme Court orders by continuing to spend public funds without proper legislative approval.
The group also criticized the Governor’s plan to commence a 10-day project commissioning exercise, describing it as “illegal and vexatious.”
They argued that any financial commitment towards the projects would be in direct defiance of the apex court’s ruling, which mandates the state government to seek legislative appropriation before incurring expenditures.
“The Supreme Court judgment was clear that the Rivers State Government should not spend a dime without appropriation,” the statement read. “One begins to wonder where the funds for this 10-day event will come from when both the 2024 and 2025 budgets remain unapproved.”
The coalition urged Speaker Martins Amaewhule and other members of the Assembly to act decisively in upholding democratic principles and ensuring accountability in the state’s governance.
“The 10th Assembly should not hesitate to wield the big stick of impeachment if the Governor continues on the path of illegality,” the statement added.
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which affirmed the legitimacy of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, was hailed by the group as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.
They also commended the political leadership in the state, particularly former Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his role in stabilizing Rivers politics.
In their closing remarks, the coalition called on political leaders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to prevail on Governor Fubara to comply with legal and democratic processes.
“As a group that supported power shift to the Rivers Ijaw Axis in 2023, we remain committed to opposing any form of betrayal and illegality in governance,” they stated