ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Today’s unrest shows a very strong indication that Governor Sim Fubara was no longer on good terms with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who was the single most influential factor in his emergence as Governor.
Rivers State House of Assembly members loyal to Governor Fubara have hurriedly claimed to have impeached Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
As the legality of the lawmakers’ action was still being understood by the public, another lawmaker Ehie Edison said he was named as Mr Amaewhule’s replacement.
Mr Edison said that 26 (of 32 members) of his colleagues came together to cast their votes for him.
Though Edison’s claim could not be verified immediately, as other lawmakers told Peoples Gazette that only 11 members were at the parliament when the impeachment and replacement purportedly took place on Monday.
It was gathered that 15 members were previously suspended, allowing 11 members to form the requisite two-thirds quorum from the remaining 17 members to remove the Speaker and conduct other legislative activities.
READ ALSO: Edison Ehia Removed As Majority Leader Of Rivers House Of Assembly
Rumours circulated on Monday afternoon revealed that Edison led other lawmakers to recommend urgent removal of all local government chairpersons in the state, as well as the state’s chief judge.
Also, there were reports that some members loyal to Mr Amaewhule were shut out of today’s plenary, which was planned outside schedule under the cover of darkness.
Edison, a staunch ally of Fubara, has been with the Governor in the ongoing battle against former Governor Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He (Edison) was allegedly elected Speaker hours after he was allegedly removed as the majority leader by a parliamentary faction loyal to Wike, whose members were plotting to remove Fubara from office, barely five months after assuming office as the State Governor.
Governor Fubara made a defiant appearance at the House of Assembly Complex on Monday morning, vowing to fiercely resist any attempts to remove him from his position. It was the first public indication that the governor was no longer on good terms with Wike, who was the single most influential factor in his election earlier this year.
The FCT Minister, Wike has not publicly commented on the violence, even though he had received intense public criticism over claims that he was trying to suffocate the governor in order to control the state resources.
A spokesman for the FCT minister was reached by The Gazette for comments on Monday afternoon.