The ongoing impeachment proceedings of Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi state has hit the rocks.
Seven out of the 15 legislators that signed the impeachment notice have backed out of the process. The seven, called themselves the Integrity Group of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
They were led by the Minority Leader in the House, Hon. Enyi C Enyi of All Progressives Congress (APC) and representing Ezza North West Constituency.
Enyi who addressed a press conference in Enugu Tuesday said: “Our resolution is simply that we have unequivocally withdrawn from any further involvement in the impeachment moves against the governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi.”
He said the decision of the seven of them to withdraw from the impeachment plot was informed by far reaching consultations within and outside their constituencies.
“We were also touched by the deep political counseling from our leaders and elders, which indicated that the long term demerits of the action would surpass whatever short term merits it may present.
“Most importantly we were alarmed at the discovery that the impeachment, if consummated, would spew deep political bad blood and dichotomy between the two political blocs in the state – Abakaliki and Afikpo,” the minority leader explained.
Enyi said they also realized that if the impeachment was pursued to its logical end, each member of the Ebonyi state House of Assembly would wear the stigma and badge of dishonor as the lawmakers that impeached their governor and the first set of legislators to impeach a sitting governor in the South East geopolitical zone.
He said: “Those of us in the Integrity Group are not prepared to earn any stigma that could outlive our tenures and political careers and even affect our children.”
He disclosed that the plan to impeach the governor was hatched last year but to be delayed until recently, adding that they were of the opinion that the impeachment had become belated “and should remain dead and buried forever.”
The Integrity Group members, however, made some plea to Governor Elechi.
According to them: “It is time Chief Elechi gathers everybody together irrespective of party affiliation, religion, social idiosyncrasies, language, culture or zone.
“This is a time for him for him to renew the state on the path of peace and genuine reconciliation. He should consider ordering the release of all those clamped in jail all this while as a result of the Ezza/Ezillo clash especially the 83 indigent citizens from Ezza clan.
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