The forces ganging up against the embattled Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi in the bid to impeach him have grown stronger with the addition of eight more lawmakers to the camp led by the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who was also Amaechi’s Chief of Staff in his first term.
This brings to 13 the number of anti-Amaechi legislators in the 32-member State House of Assembly, as five lawmakers had pitched their tent with the Wike faction of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in the state from the start of the power tussle
However, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree, said the number of opposition members in the House was not enough to impeach the governor.
Speaking through his Media Assistant, Mr. Jim Okpiki, the pro-Amaechi Amachree said, “We are aware that between five and eight lawmakers have compromised and are making moves to impeach the governor. But they don’t have enough number to impeach the state governor.
“They have to impeach the Speaker first before thinking of removing the governor because he (Speaker) will not betray the governor. Mr. Speaker is never a traitor and he (Amachree) has not seen any reason why he should give up on Amaechi.
“Apart from that, those lawmakers who have compromised would have to tell the world the governor’s offence, because as far as we are concerned, Governor Amaechi has not committed any impeachable offence.”
The Speaker challenged the lawmakers to come out and explain to Rivers people why they had decided to betray the governor.
It was gathered that the eight lawmakers may have been financial inducements as well as other juicy offers to cross to Wike’s camp during a meeting held outside the state.
It has been uncovered that the leadership of Peoples’ Democratic Party backed by the Presidency was keen on hatching the plot due to Amaechi’s stance on some national issues and alleged 2015 ambition.
Amaechi had during a youth forum earlier in the week, declared that he was not afraid of impeachment, saying he had done his best for the development of the state.