Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Monday challenged the state House of Assembly to make public the offences that warranted the commencement impeachment proceedings against him.
Fubara spoke in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Boniface Onyedi.
The statement was his first official reaction to the announcement of the commencement of impeachment proceedings against him by the House.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Maol Dumle, had during plenary session on Monday moved a motion to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor.
Maol hinged his motion on the governorโs alleged โโmisconduct, unbecoming of a governorโ.
Meanwhile, Fubara has condemned the bombing of a section of the House of Assembly complex by suspected hoodlums, who allegedly attacked the building with Improvised Explosive Devices.
In a statement, he described as unfortunate the attempt by โsome disgruntled persons to forcefully take over control of the assemblyโ.
โThe truth is that everybody who knows me know that I am a peaceful person.
โโI can never ever, even if I am aware that there is a plot to impeach me for whatever reason, be part of such destruction.
โI am worried that a facility like this that we used taxpayers money to build will be destroyed for selfish reason just to please somebody,โ he said.
Fubara described as null and void any illegal legislative actions that had been taken by some members, who held a purported plenary session.
According to him, whoever masterminded the attack at the assembly was trying to divert attention.
The governor said that he would resist any attempt without justification to impeach him.
โLet them tell Rivers people my offence.
โCome out and tell the people of Rivers that offence that Fubara committed that warrants impeachment.
โMy happiness this morning is that the people of Rivers, represented by everyone of you here, are with us.
โLet me assure you people that we will continue to defend you.
โWe will protect you and you will enjoy the dividend of democracy,โ he stated.
Fubara alleged that some security operatives had been compromised.
He alleged that his vehicle was directly shot on his way to the assembly complex to access the extent of damage caused by the early morning bombing.
He commended the youths for standing up to protect the interest of the state.
NAN recalls that the House also moved four additional motions to remove the Majority Leader of the House, Edison Ehie, for alleged inability to effectively discharge his responsibilities.
The other three motions were for the suspension of Mr Victor Okoh (Bonny constituency), Mr Goodboy Sokari (Ahoada West constituency) and Mr Adulphus Timothy (Opobo/Nkoro constituency).
No fewer than 24 of the 32 lawmakers voted in favour of the motions. (NAN)