The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a stern warning to Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State, urging him to adhere to the nation’s constitution and uphold the rule of law.
In a press conference held in Abuja, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, accused Governor Fubara of disregarding the state legislature and governing in contempt of constitutional principles.
Morka highlighted several grievances against the governor, including the alleged misuse of state resources without regard for appropriation laws, withholding of local government funds as a punitive measure, and attempts to undermine the authority of the State Assembly.
The APC emphasized that Governor Fubara’s actions, particularly his refusal to recognize the existence of the State House of Assembly, constitute a grave violation of the constitution and could warrant impeachment proceedings.
“The Governor has unlawfully withheld local governments funds as a punitive measure against perceived opponents, and only recently, directed that all heads and officials of the 23 Local Government Areas should ignore the summons of the State Assembly as he threatened to sack officials who flouted his directive.
“Governor Fubara cannot abrogate the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He cannot be governor and be despot-in-chief of the Rivers state House of Assembly, at the same time. Attempting to impose an illegal 3-man House of Assembly is executive lawlessness in the extreme. Governor Fubara’s quest to repudiate the Constitution and govern in denial of the existence of the state legislature is, in and of itself, among other grounds, an impeachable offense.
“We strongly counsel Governor Fubara to submit himself to the dictates of the Constitution and the rule of law. In any and all contests between Governor Fubara and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Constitution shall prevail, always. The good people of Rivers state deserve so much more than the seemingly unending chicanery of Governor Fubara.”
Responding to the call on the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Govenor Siminalayi Fubara, Morka said if the governor’s declaration that the House of Assembly is nonexistent is based on the fact that the 27 members who decamped from PDP to APC have lost their seats, then Governor Fubara is sorely misled.
“Contrary to PDP’s assertions, it is not APC that is calling for the impeachment of Governor Fubara. Rather, by his egregious actions, conduct and infantile comments, Fubara is actively and vehemently precipitating his own impeachment.
“Governor Fubara’s declaration that the Rivers State House of Assembly does not exist is not only reckless, it is a direct affront to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The House of Assembly is a creation of the Constitution, and vested with the legislative authority of the state. The members of the Assembly were elected by the good people of Rivers state in the same manner that Fubara was elected Governor.
“The Assembly does not exist at the Governor’s pleasure or fanciful whims. The legislature is at the core of the idea of democracy. It is co-equal with the executive and judicial arms of government. The constitutionally entrenched principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government guarantees essential checks and balances required to ensure observance of the rule of law. The rule of law is indispensable to democracy and constitutional order.”
.
