“Heaven won’t fall” if Rivers Assembly impeaches Fubara – Wike

The former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that nothing catastrophic would happen if the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly proceeds with the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike emphasized that impeachment is a constitutional process and should not be seen as an unlawful act. He accused Fubara of committing impeachable offences, including withholding lawmakers’ salaries for months.

“If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a criminal offence? It’s provided in the constitution. Am I a member of the Assembly?” Wike asked. “If you have committed an infraction of the constitution and the Assembly deems it fit to say you should be impeached, I have heard people say: ‘Oh, if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order.’ Rubbish! Nothing will happen.”

Wike argued that if the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly were not interested in peace, they would have taken a six-month recess after the Supreme Court ruling. He also criticized the letter Fubara wrote to the Assembly, stating that it could have been better presented.

On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court issued key rulings on the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State. A five-man panel led by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye dismissed Fubara’s appeal challenging the legitimacy of the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. The court ruled that Amaewhule should resume sitting with other lawmakers immediately.

Additionally, the Supreme Court ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other financial bodies to withhold funds from the Rivers State Government until it complies with court directives. It also invalidated the local government elections conducted in the state on October 5, 2024.

In response, Fubara pledged to implement the Supreme Court judgments and instructed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to prepare for a fresh local government election, now scheduled for August 9, 2025.

The Assembly later issued an arrest warrant for the RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), for failing to appear before lawmakers. Meanwhile, Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, sent a letter dated March 7, 2025, requesting a meeting with the Assembly on March 10, 2025, to discuss the re-presentation of the 2025 budget and peace negotiations. However, the Assembly asked the governor to follow the appropriate process for extending such an invitation.