HURIWA warns against impeachment plot in Rivers

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a strong warning against any attempt to impeach Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, describing such a move as a futile and dangerous ploy that would ultimately fail.

The rights group, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Friday, cautioned that Governor Fubara was democratically elected by the majority of Rivers people and that any plot to remove him through unconstitutional means would be met with stiff resistance from the people.

HURIWA specifically admonished the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against instigating the 27 lawmakers loyal to him in the Rivers State House of Assembly to initiate an impeachment process against Governor Fubara.

The group emphasized that under conditions of political instability, it is the people who suffer the most, as governance is disrupted and critical development projects are stalled.

The rights group noted that Wike, having served as Rivers State governor for eight years, should be playing the role of a statesman rather than engaging in divisive and destabilizing political manoeuvres.

“The FCT Minister should see himself as a national leader, a unifier, and not a divider. It does not befit his current status as a senior cabinet member in the government of President Bola Tinubu to be at the centre of an intra-state political crisis. History will not be kind to him if he encourages his loyalists in the Rivers State House of Assembly to attempt an impeachment that could plunge the state into prolonged political instability,” HURIWA stated.

The association reminded Wike that Rivers State is bigger than any individual and that all political actors must put the state’s interests first. It argued that peace, stability, security, and good governance should be the priority of all parties involved in the current political debacle rather than personal or factional interests. “We urge all political gladiators to place Rivers State first and refrain from actions that could elevate personal ambitions above the collective interests of the people,” the group added.

HURIWA further warned the security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS), to remain neutral in the political crisis and not allow themselves to be used as tools in any unconstitutional attempt to remove the governor. “The security forces have a constitutional responsibility to maintain law and order without taking sides in political disputes. We caution against any situation where federal security agencies are seen as partisan players in Rivers’ political crisis,” the statement read.

The rights group also condemned the recent allegations of age falsification levelled against the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi, describing them as a desperate attempt to destabilize the state’s judiciary for political gain.