Fubara Foils Assassination Attempt, Condemns Burning Of Assembly Complex .Challenges Aggrieved Lawmakers To Justify Impeachment Plot

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has foiled attempt by some compromised police officers who shot at him with the intention to kill while on a visit to assess the extent of damage done in the aftermath of the detonation of explosives and razing of the state House of Assembly Complex by some hoodlums.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Rivers State, Boniface Onyedi, in Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday, October 30, 2023.

Addressing Rivers youths, Fubara, who had visited the complex, greeted by well-meaning Rivers youths on Monday, described as unfortunate the attempt by some disgruntled persons to forcefully take over control of the Assembly.

He said, “From what I have seen the security agency is even compromised. They were shooting at me directly but it doesn’t matter, somebody will die one day.

“When people here ask who is this Fubara? He is that man that was killed for his struggle. I am not against anybody. I’m not planning anything against anybody that I don’t know where these things are coming from."

He condemned the burning of a section of the building of such important public institution built with taxpayers money.

"The truth is that, everybody who knows me know that I am a peaceful person. I can never ever, even if I am aware that there is a plot to impeach me for whatever reason be part of such destruction.

"I am worried that a facility like this that we used taxpayers money to build will be destroyed for selfish reason just to please somebody. From what I have seen, even the security is compromised because they were shooting at me directly. The DC Operations was shooting at me," the governor emphasised.

Fubara described as null and void any illegal legislative actions that has been taken by some members who held a purported plenary session, and said: "Let it be on record, whoever masterminded the attack at the Assembly is trying to divert attention.

“Let it be put on record that whoever masterminded this is trying to shift… I heard some people gathered to do whatever. That is purely rubbish. You can’t sit when there is problem and say you are doing anything. What are you doing? I’m the chief security officer. I’m the head of the government… whatever action that is taken here is null and void. For our good people, I know you are prayerful. You have been praying for me. God will see us to the end.”

Fubara commended them for standing up to protect the interest of Rivers State, and said he was not scared about impeachment but such action had to be properly explained and justified.

The governor said he has not committed any offence to warrant impeachment by the Rivers State House of Assembly, and challenged those fighting to impeach him to come out openly to explain to Rivers people what their grievances are.

“Let them come out and tell Rivers people the offence I have committed to warrant any impeachment,” the governor said.

"If Siminalayi Fubara is impeached, I won't be the first, neither will I be the last. But what is important is that any attempt that is not justified will be resisted. Let them come out and tell Rivers people the offence that I have committed to warrant impeachment.

"But my happiness this morning is that the people of Rivers State represented by everyone of you here is with us. I can go home and sleep. Let me assure Rivers people that we will continue to defend them, protect you people and ensure that they will enjoy the dividends of democracy."

He assured the people of the state of getting the dividends of democracy, and he would speak on the matter at the appropriate time.

“Let me assure the people of Rivers that I will continue to ensure that you get the dividends of democracy. At the appropriate time, I will address the press,” he said.

Meanwhile, the new Speaker, Rt Hon Edison Ehie, has informed the governor of the directive of the Assembly for him to appoint an acting chief judge for the state following the removal of Justice Simeon Amadi, by the Assembly.

He explained that at the proceeding, 26 members of the House unanimously took a resolution impeaching Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule as speaker and Rt Hon Dumle Maol as deputy speaker, while also removing the state chief judge.

It would be recalled that some members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), had taken over the Assembly premises over alleged plots to cause crisis in the state by launching impeachment proceedings. 

It was gathered that 24 lawmakers of the Assembly had on Monday morning signed an impeachment notice against Fubara.

This follows moves by the House to commence impeachment process on the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, and the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday.

Some unidentified arsonists had set the Assembly complex on fire at about 9:45pm, causing uneasy calm around the complex which sits directly opposite the State Police Command Headquarters.