The crisis climaxed after 27 out of 32 lawmakers in the
house defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives
Congress (APC).
In October 2023, the assembly commenced impeachment
proceedings against the governor.
The impeachment notice was later withdrawn in December 2023.
On several occasions, the assembly has overridden the
decision of Fubara not to sign certain bills passed by the lawmakers led by
Martin Amaewhule, the speaker.
‘WE MUST AVERT
ANARCHY’
In the letter, Clark alerted the IGP to the purported move
by the lawmakers to impeach the governor.
“The recent unprovoked announcement by the Speaker and 26
former members of the Rivers state house of assembly might cause a breakdown of
law and order in Rivers State, and the consequences of such a crisis will not
only affect Rivers State politically, socially, and economically but will also
affect the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large,” the letter reads.
“We have enough of
such crises of all dimensions in nearly all parts of this country already, and
we, therefore, prevent any more of such crises.
“I had earlier advised and appealed to our President, His
Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to call his Minister, Nyesom Wike, to order to
avoid this looming crisis and that the interest of the entire country should
supersede the interest of an individual or a small group of people; otherwise,
the consequences will be disastrous.
“It is in this spirit that I am addressing this letter to
you as the Inspector General of Police, who is in charge of the peace and
stability of this country.
“You are, therefore, fully aware of the dangerous,
precarious situation we are facing today in this country, whereby the people
are no longer safe to move around or to go to their farms to feed themselves.
“I seriously warn
that if the sanctity of the country’s constitution is not obeyed by its
citizens, the consequences that will follow will be anarchy.”
The PANDEF convener claimed that 27 lawmakers had
“automatically forfeited their seats” when they changed their party allegiance
and should have no say in the house’s decision.
However, the case determining the legitimacy of the members
of the Rivers assembly who defected from the PDP to the APC is still pending in
court.
