- They also condemned the recent defection of 27 lawmakers of the state House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Rivers State elders and leaders led by a former governor, Rufus Ada-George, says move to impeachGovernor Siminalayi Fubara portends danger for the state.
The elders rejected move to impeach the governor barely six months into office, describing it as unacceptable.
They made their position known on the political crisis rocking the state in a communique signed by Ada-George, pioneer spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe and 12 others.
The communique was issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the elders and leaders on Sunday in Port Harcourt.
They also condemned the recent defection of 27 lawmakers of the state House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The elders also said they were furious that neither Fubara nor his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, responded to their letters to seek an audience with them on the worsening political crisis in the state.
They described the happenings in the state as embarrassing and dangerous, particularly the explosion at the m House of Assembly Complex on October 29, 2023, and alleged attack on Fubara by some security agents on Monday, October 30, 2023.
Parts of the communiqué read, “The Forum regretted that neither Governor Siminialayi Fubara nor Chief Nyesom Wike responded to our letters seeking for an audience with each of them.
“The attempt to impeach the Governor of Rivers State barely about six months in office without explaining to the good people of the state the reasons and infractions of law is unacceptable.
“The Forum condemned every form of violence and lawlessness in Rivers State and therefore demand proper investigation of the crisis and those responsible be brought to justice.”
The Forum urged President Bola Tinubu to consolidate on his earlier intervention, stressing that the consequences of inaction may not only affect Rivers State, but also the Niger Delta region and the Federal Government in general.