Lawmakers Set To Impeach Governor Rotimi Amaechi

The anti-Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers had, on Thursday listed impeachable offences committed by the state governor and vowed that he (Amaechi) would be impeached at the appropriate time.

The leader of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers, Mr. Evans Bipi, said Amaechi’s interference in the affairs of the state judiciary and meeting with other members of the House of Assembly at the Government House were impeachable offences that would count against the governor.

Bipi, who spoke in a telephone interview on Thursday, also listed the alleged poor handling of the monorail project and purported seizure of the allowances of the six lawmakers perceived to be against his (Amaechi) administration as some of the governor’s impeachable offences.

Apart from Bipi, other anti-Amaechi lawmakers are Michael Okechukwu Chinda, Kelechi Godspower Nwogu, Martins Amaewhule, Victor Ihunwo and Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani.

He said, “But why is Amaechi afraid of impeachment? If he has not committed any impeachable offence, why is he afraid? Interfering in the affairs of the judiciary alone is an impeachable offence; meeting with lawmakers in Government House is an impeachable offence because that is not the hallowed chamber.

“Again, seizing our (six lawmakers) allowances, salaries and constituency projects funds is an impeachable offence. The poor handling of the monorail project is an impeachable offence.

“He used the project to siphon Rivers money. I have the figures on the monorail project and I will give them to you later. So, if he (Amaechi) has not committed an impeachable offence, why is he afraid?”

Bipi, however, explained that the anti-Amaechi lawmakers were not ready to remove the governor from office immediately, adding that the governor would not escape being impeached at the appropriate time.

“I can proudly say that we, the responsible and law abiding members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have said it time without number that we have no such plan to impeach Governor Amaechi, even though he is guilty of so many impeachable offences.

“We have the intention to impeach and when we do that, he will know that we are in the majority. We will impeach him when the time comes. But for now, we have no plan to impeach the governor. But he knows that he has committed a lot of impeachable offences,” Bipi added.

Responding, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, said Amaechi was not under any threat of impeachment and maintained that the governor had not committed any impeachable offence.

Dan-Amachree, who spoke through his Press Secretary, Mr. Jim Okpiki, explained that nobody would stay by the roadside and talk about the impeachment of the governor, adding that the plan of the six anti-Amaechi lawmakers would fail.

“The issue here is that there has not been any list of impeachable offences brought before the Speaker and the House has adjourned indefinitely. You cannot just stay on the roadside and talk about impeachment.

“Those saying the governor has committed impeachable offences should make bold their threat if they can. The truth is that there is always a new strategy to keep those causing this crisis in business. Governor Amaechi is not under any threat of being impeached,” he stressed.