In Rivers State, APC Chairman Tony Okocha has demanded Governor Siminalayi Fubara resign within 48 hours or face impeachment. He criticised Fubara’s leadership, highlighting his disregard for constitutional norms following a Supreme Court ruling validating 27 lawmakers. Okocha warned continued instability could lead to disaster, urging accountability and reform.
PORT HARCOURT, Rivers — In a dramatic escalation of political tensions in Rivers State, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Okocha, has issued a stark ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara – resign honourably within 48 hours or face impeachment.
The incendiary pronouncement, delivered to a throng of journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, has set the political arena ablaze, with many warning that the state is teetering on the brink of chaos.
Okocha did not mince his words. Describing Fubara’s recent manoeuvre as nothing short of a “Greek gift,” he lambasted the governor for inviting 27 lawmakers – now validated by the Supreme Court as the authentic legislature – to a meeting.
“The invitation to the lawmakers is a Greek gift,” Okocha asserted. “The Supreme Court Judgment is final. There is nothing anybody can do about it. The only option available to the Governor now is for him to resign or be impeached.”
A Display of Grandstanding and Legal Abuses
According to Okocha, Fubara’s invitation – delivered via a letter signed not by the governor himself but by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo – smacks of grandstanding and deliberate subversion of constitutional norms.
“It is an aberration,” he declared. “Why would a sitting governor delegate such a critical invitation to a subordinate? This is nothing less than bending over backwards after a protracted show of political theatre.”
Okocha’s rhetoric paints a damning picture of Fubara’s leadership. He labelled the governor as “clueless” and warned that his seemingly saintly demeanour conceals the venom of a “dangerous snake.”
According to the APC leader, Fubara’s actions not only flout the law but also display blatant disrespect for President Bola Tinubu, who intervened in the state’s political crisis with an eight-point agenda – a roadmap that Fubara has largely ignored.
“He has run the state aground,” Okocha charged, “and disrespected Mr President. It is high time he either steps down honourably or faces the full weight of impeachment.”
The Voice of the Voiceless and the Warning of Instability
Embodying the APC’s self-styled role as the voice of the voiceless in Rivers State, Okocha warned that Fubara’s continued grip on power is an invitation to disaster.
“The State is already sitting on a keg of gunpowder,” he warned, “and with a little spark, it will explode.”
His message resonated deeply in a state already wracked by persistent political instability and a series of unresolved crises stemming from disputed election results and contentious budget presentations.
Okocha’s speech is a rallying cry to an increasingly disillusioned electorate, fed up with what many view as a series of legal and administrative missteps.
The governor’s failure to implement the president’s agenda – coupled with his insistence on bypassing constitutional protocols – has fuelled a growing perception that his administration is adrift, undermining the very foundations of democratic governance in Rivers State.
Supreme Court Judgment: The Final Arbiter
Central to Okocha’s argument is the recent Supreme Court judgment, which unequivocally validated the 27 lawmakers as the authentic voice of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
This ruling, which many believed would serve as a turning point in the ongoing political crisis, has instead become a fulcrum for further conflict.
Fubara’s invitation to the lawmakers – ostensibly an attempt to downplay the judgment’s impact – has been derided as a cynical ploy to obscure his numerous impeachable offences.
“The evidence is clear,” Okocha stressed. “Fubara has committed offences that go beyond mere administrative oversight.
He has deliberately flouted the law and chosen to govern in a manner that is both unconstitutional and perilously unstable.”
With the Supreme Court’s verdict as an unassailable backdrop, the APC is poised to press ahead with impeachment proceedings should the governor fail to heed their ultimatum.
Implications for Rivers State Governance
Political analysts warn that the crisis in Rivers State is far from an isolated incident. The mounting pressure on Fubara reflects a broader trend of political reckoning in Nigeria’s oil-rich states, where entrenched power structures are increasingly being challenged by calls for accountability and transparency.
The APC’s forceful stance in Rivers could set a precedent, galvanising opposition parties and reformist elements across the country to demand stricter adherence to constitutional norms.
The governor’s decision now hangs in the balance. If Fubara chooses to resist the pressure and remain in office, the likelihood of impeachment becomes almost inevitable.
Okocha’s ultimatum is not merely a political maneuver; it is a warning shot across the bow – signalling that the APC is ready to deploy all necessary constitutional remedies to restore order and uphold the rule of law.
A Pivotal Moment for Rivers State
As the political drama unfolds, the people of Rivers State watch with bated breath. The governor’s next move will determine not only his political fate but also the future of governance in one of Nigeria’s most volatile regions.
For many, this is a pivotal moment – a crossroads where the commitment to democratic principles must triumph over the legacy of political grandstanding and corruption.
In the charged atmosphere of Port Harcourt, where every public pronouncement carries the weight of historical grievances, Okocha’s call to action serves as both a challenge and a clarion call.
“If he refuses to resign,” he warns, “he will be impeached.” For now, the governor stands at a critical juncture: either step aside honourably and pave the way for a fresh start or face the inexorable forces of constitutional accountability.
Only time will tell whether Rivers State can overcome its crisis and chart a course toward genuine reform – but one thing is clear: the voice of the people, amplified by the APC’s uncompromising stance, demands change.
