*Rivers youths drums support for Fubara as Ehie becomes new Speaker
From Blessing Douglas, Port Harcourt
The crisis rocking Rivers State took a new twist for the worse gotten as the Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Monday, narrowly escaped being killed at the premisis of the State House of Assembly, on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
Recall that on Sunday night, unknown persons suspected to be political thugs, had set ablaze the State Assembly complex, even as it was alleged of plots to impeach the governor and Leader of the House, Edison Ehie.
Following the fire incident, Gov. Fubara alongside his supporters decided to visit the Assembly Monday morning to ascertain the level of damage on it.
But there was already heavy security presence within the Assembly premises, restricting free movement, of even the governor, who denied knowledge of the build up of security even as the state Chief Security officer.
As the governor and his entourage made for the Assembly complex, they were stopped by police and other security operatives who had barricaded the road.
The governor stepped down from his official vehicle and walked towards the complex, but the security operatives release hot water from a motorised cannon on him, and as well teargased him, but he refused budge, while his security details had to act to protect and save his life.
The Governor none the less continued until he was able to inspect the building, noting the level of damage while condemning the act.
Earlier, some lawmakers had at an early morning session presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, moved a motion to remove and suspend the House Leader, Hon. Edison Ehie, while other lawmakers seen to be loyal to the governor were equally suspended by the House.
The lawmakers were said to have commenced the impeachment session at about 7:00am, made their way into the Auditorium of the complex and immediately commenced plenary where about 24 of them reportedly signed the impeachment notice on the Governor.
They were further said to have adjourned sine-die, pending when they damaged Assembly Complex is fixed
The development led to serious demonstrations by youths in the state who rejected the impeachment plot by the lawmakers.
The protest by the youths have also crippled economic, social and private activities in Port Harcourt.
Howevwr addressing the youths and other protesters at the front of the Assembly complex, Gov. Fubara described as unfortunate, the attempt by some persons to forcefully take control of the Assembly and condemned the torching of sections of the building.
He said: “The truth is that, everybody who knows me know that I am a peaceful person. I can never ever, even if I am aware that there is a plot to impeach me, for whatever reason, be part of such destruction.
“I am worried that a facility like this that we used taxpayers money to build, will be destroyed for selfish reasons just to please somebody.
“From what I have seen, even the security is compromised because they were shooting at me directly.
“The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) was shooting at me by himself not through his boys,” stressing that he was not afraid of being killed.
He wondered the offence he would have committed in just five months of being in office that some people are after him, vowing to resist such moves.
He described as null and void any illegal legislative action taken by some members who held a purported plenary session, adding: “let it be on record, whoever masterminded the attack at the Assembly is trying to divert attention.”
Fubara commended the youths for standing up to protect the state of such an anomie, saying any move to imprach him must be properly explained and justified.
“If Siminalayi Fubara is impeached, I won’t be the first, neither will I be the last.
“But what is important is that any attempt that is not justified will be resisted. Let them come out and tell Rivers people the offence that I have committed to warrant impeachment.
“But my happiness this morning is that the people of Rivers State represented by everyone of you here is with us. I can go home and sleep.
“Let me assure Rivers people that we will continue to defend them, protect you people and ensure that they will enjoy the dividends of democracy.”
The demonstrating youths have declared total support to the administration of Siminalayi Fubara.
For instance, Mr. Chijioke Ihunwo, Chairman, Rivers State Youth Council, condemned the impeachment plot on the governor, stressing that they will resist any action to remove him, adding that within a short period of time in office, the governor has proved to be man of the people and that he has the interest of the state at heart.
He said: What we are seeing today is a challenge and we must overcome it.
“I want to also call on those who are causing crisis in our state to also stop this nonsense, because we have a governor who represents the interest of the youths and all Rivers people.
“We will give our 100 percent support to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. By tomorrow we are going to occupy the streets of Port Harcourt and we are saying no to ‘God Fatherism; no to traitors; no to those who want to cart away the money that belongs to Rivers people’.
“That is why the youth will occupy the streets because we have a governor that have a passion for Rivers people”.
On his part, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Joseph Johnson, said the crisis is a fight for Rivers people and the governor.
Johnson said: “I am a lawyer, we live in the principle of verifiable and cogent reasons.
“They must tell Rivers people what the governor has done.
“The governor has urged the police and other security agencies to unravel the mystery behind the sudden explosion at the Assembly building.
“We were driving on the Moscow Road, heading to the Assembly, at side the where there is barricade before the Federal Inland Revenue, the police didn’t allow the governor to move and he came down and started walking down.
“Then there was physical confrontation with water coming from their water cannon and just about twp meters to where the governor stood, we started hearing gunshots and it was attempted at his life.
“It is a fight for Rivers people, not Siminalayi Fubara’s fight.
“Rivers people gave him mandate and it is Rivers people that should decide on hom. Power is not in any man’s hand, it is in the hands of God. So, power must shift and it has shifted”.
In another development, Hon. Edison Ehie, declared himself as the new Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Ehie who was removed as Leader of the House, few hours earlier by the 24 lawmakers who where at the early morning session presided over by Hon. Martin Amaewhule, announced himself as the current Speaker, purportedly with votes from 26 members of the House at a special plenary.
“As you can see, the House just rose from plenary and with all humility I must thank my colleagues, 26 Assembly members, who have just elected me as the new Speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly.
“My commitment to the Rivers people is that I will be fair, I will be just to all and sundry, and I will ensure that the rule of law get its course.
“I will not betray Rivers people, I will not betray my constituents, I will also ensure that independence of the Rivers State House of Assembly is adhere to with mutual respect to the Judiciary and the Executive arms of government.
“Everything due for my colleagues as honourable members constitutionally will be given to them.
“The members that have been suspended as has been published, will also be given fair hearing.
“The Committee on Information will publish their names and the House has urged the Committee on Petitions to give them fair hearing,” he stated.
He also announced that the House has been adjourned sine die.
