IMPEACHMENT SAGA: Five anti-Amaechi lawmakers go into hiding
FIVE members of the Rivers State House of Assembly believed to be enjoying the backing of Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, disappeared from public glare yesterday.
The Assemblymen allegedly went underground to perfect their plot to impeach Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
They went into hiding a day after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in the state, Felix Obuah, refuted the purported plot to unseat the governor.
The pro-Wike lawmakers – Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II); Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma); Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo); Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I); and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III) – are reportedly restrategising.
Their whereabouts remained unknown last night. Their mobile telephone lines were also not available, when attempts were made to get their reactions to developments in the state.
It was learnt in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that the plot of the lawmakers was to catch unaware House Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree, the other 26 lawmakers and Amaechi.
Amachree, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over the “plot” to impeach him and Amaechi.
In a statement, the speaker alleged that a fake mace had been smuggled into the state to perfect their act, thereby provoking anarchy and paving the way for the declaration of a state of emergency.
Activist-lawyer Femi Falana and Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), cautioned against the move to use the minority to impeach Amaechi.
Besides, the duo said there was no justification for the plot against the governor.
On April 29, the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers, including the speaker, were suspended by the Obuah-led state executive committee, which also declared the lawmakers’ seats vacant.
The suspension of the lawmakers, who are loyal to the governor, came on the heels of their alleged refusal to reverse the suspension of the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government, Timothy Nsirim; his deputy and the 17 councillors, within the 48-hour ultimatum given to them by Obuah.
It was also gathered that Wike, Obuah, members of his committee and their backers, have not forgiven Amaechi, who doubles as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the 27 legislators, over the “illegal” suspension of Nsirim and others.
The Obuah-led committee, according to a source, has insisted that the recall of the suspended Obio/Akpor council officials remained one of the conditions for peace.
Addressing a news conference on Wednesday at the state secretariat of the PDP on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Obuah said there was no plan to remove Amaechi.
But, there are fears that the anti-Amaechi lawmakers could spring a surprise at anytime.
They alleged that the refutal by Obuah was a decoy following the leakage of information on the fake mace and the impeachment plot.
Culled from 247 News
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