By Joy Yesufu
Two additional members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have appealed to their colleagues to halt the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, calling instead for restraint and dialogue.
The lawmakers, Barile Nwakoh, who represents Khana Constituency I, and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II, made the appeal during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Their intervention comes barely two days after two other legislators—Sylvanus Eyinna Nwankwo and Peter Abbey publicly broke ranks with the Assembly leadership and urged caution in handling the deepening political crisis in the state.
The four lawmakers advocated non-confrontational measures, arguing that impeachment should be a last resort and that avenues for reconciliation should be explored to prevent further escalation in the standoff between the executive and legislative arms of government.
Speaking at the briefing, Minority Leader of the House and representative of Omuma State Constituency, Sylvanus Nwankwo, disclosed that appeals had been received from prominent leaders within and outside Rivers State, urging the lawmakers to exercise restraint.
He called on his colleagues to reconsider the impeachment process in the interest of peace, stability, and democratic governance.
Peter Abbey, who represents Degema State Constituency, acknowledged that while the governor may have committed actions perceived as constitutional breaches, such lapses should be addressed with understanding rather than political confrontation.
Abbey stressed that while accountability remains important, it is equally necessary to recognise that mistakes can occur and that the governor has a responsibility to ensure such issues do not recur.
