Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is on the verge of a potential impeachment after reportedly falling out with his political godfather and predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The situation highlights Nigeria’s problematic political landscape where political office holders are expected to be more responsive to their benefactors rather than to the people who elected them.
On Monday 30 October 2023, the leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie, and other lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalaye Fubara were suspended by the House as announced by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule. Shortly after, there were rumours that the state assembly had signed an impeachment notice to remove Governor Fubara from office. To add to the confusion, the governor was seen on video being teargassed and sprayed with water by security operatives as he rushed into the State Assembly to, apparently, stop his impeachment proceeding. A source claimed that the fire outbreak that occurred at the assembly just a day before was to prevent the lawmakers from gaining access to the premises to carry out their impeachment plan...
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