Gov. Fubara fights back, sacks CoS, CSO, as Rivers Assembly commences impeachment proceedings

Embattled Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has staged a fight to re-establish control of the Government House by sacking two prominent aides amid allegations of in-house corroboration by key officials of his administration said to be loyal to now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

(From left): Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara

This follows the decision of the State House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings on the governor following reported rift with immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike, the estranged chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The State Assembly complex was also the subject of fire incident, Sunday night, as suspected political thugs had stormed the facility and set it alight in an attempt to stall planned impeachment proceedings to be served on the governor by the legislators.

Governor has been in a rift with Wike over the latter refusal to dump political relationship the PDP’s presidential candidate in the February 22, 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar.

Wike who openly worked against Atiku and PDP in the presidential election bagged his reward of a ministerial appointment in the President Bola Tinubu government, amid further claims that the former Rivers Governor is also aiming for the 2027 election.

Since the conclusion of the 2023 poll, the State Executive Committee of the PDP has remained loyal to Wike, while the governor has continued to recognise Atiku and the PDP National body.

Attempts by the PDP National body to remove both Wike and the Rivers State Executive committee fro the party have been blocked by court injunctions, with the latest obtained by the state exco, last September.

On Monday, as the State House proceeded with its impeachment proceedings on Fubara, the embattled governor responded by sacking his Chief of Staff, Mr. Chidi Amadi, and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Government House, Promise Wosu, over teasons yet to be disclosed.

Mr. Amadi, until his appointment, was the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Meanwhile, the House of Assembly has already opened an impeachment proceedings against Fubara, as the lawmakers commenced the impeachment process around 8:00 am, Monday at the legislative building.

Also, the assembly has suspended the Leader of the House, Hon. Edison Ehie, and four other lawmakers over the arson attack on the House.

It was gathered that 24 out of 32 lawmakers removed Ehie and four others from their positions.

The chambers of the Assembly was confirmed on fire set by suspected political thugs in the state, after it was also earlier leaked that the legislators had concluded plans to impeach the duo on Monday at its resumed sitting following some undisclosed issues.

A senior police officer in the state, who did not want to be mentioned, confirmed the development, adding that it took efforts of police and the state Fire Service teams to put out the fire.

It was gathered that some suspected arsonists threw an explosive into the complex around 9:25pm, causing a fire in the building.

“Yes it is true. The fire occurred around 9:30pm or so. But as we speak, it (the fire) has been put out by firefighters who arrived at the scene just in time. I think it has to do with politics,” a source confirmed.

The police and other security operatives have taken over the complex, as about 17 security trucks and one Armoured Personnel Carrier were stationed at the entrance and surroundings.