The Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum has strongly criticised the impeachment notice recently served on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Ordu, by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The condemnation was contained in a statement issued on Friday and signed by a former Deputy Governor of Rivers State and Acting Chairman of the Forum, Gabriel Toby.
In the statement, the Forum cautioned against the politicisation of the impeachment process, stressing that “impeachment is a serious constitutional process, not a tool for political vendettas or factional struggles.”
It described the grounds cited in the impeachment notice as “disturbingly weak, lacking substance, public interest justification, or constitutional weight,” arguing that they appear to be motivated by personal interests rather than any genuine concern for good governance.
The Forum further reminded the House of Assembly that the governor’s mandate was freely given by the people of Rivers State and can only be questioned in strict compliance with constitutional provisions and due process.
It warned that the impeachment move could further polarise the state’s political landscape, “eroding public trust in democratic institutions, and further destabilizing an already fragile polity.”
According to the statement, Rivers State is yet to fully recover from the political, social, and institutional upheavals associated with the period of emergency rule.
“Our people continue to bear the consequences of that episode, and this development, so early in the year, risks reopening old wounds and heightening tensions at a time when stability and focused governance are urgently needed,” the Forum said.
The group urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to immediately withdraw the impeachment notice and prioritise the collective interest, peace, and development of the state above personal considerations.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to peace, unity, justice, and constitutional democracy in Rivers State, concluding, “We will not be silent in the face of any action that threatens the stability, dignity, and future of our state.”
