Rivers lawmakers loyal to Wike bar Fubara from state revenue, warn against violation

On Monday, the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, issued a directive to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, prohibiting him from utilizing funds from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund. This decision came after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the governor by lawmakers aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, demanding a fresh submission of the 2024 budget.

This ultimatum was part of a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu to reconcile the factions of Wike and Fubara. In 2023, Fubara had presented an Appropriation Bill of over N800 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, which was quickly passed by a faction of the Assembly loyal to him and led by Edison Ehie. Following this, Ehie resigned as Speaker and was appointed Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt.

After the peace deal, the Amaewhule-led Assembly awaited the re-submission of the budget. However, tensions escalated, leading pro-Fubara lawmakers to elect Victor Oko-Jumbo as factional Speaker. Fubara dismissed the pro-Wike lawmakers as illegitimate following their defection to the All Progressives Congress. Though a court initially restrained these lawmakers, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling on July 4, reinstating them.

During their session on Monday, May 9, the Assembly accused Fubara of violating the Constitution by spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund without an appropriation law. In response, they resolved to formally notify the governor to cease all such expenditures and to inform the Federal Government, relevant agencies, banks, and donor organizations of the situation, advising against any transactions with the Rivers State government until the budget issues are resolved.

Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, a group known as G-23 in Rivers State has urged federal lawmaker Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere to cease interfering in the state’s politics. The group criticized Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North-South Federal Constituency of Imo State, for his involvement in Rivers State’s political crisis, accusing him and Zenith Labour Party national chairman Dan Nwanyanwu of exacerbating the situation.

Tony Okocha, leader of the G-23 and Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, condemned Ugochinyere for neglecting his constituency’s issues and meddling in Rivers State affairs. Okocha also criticized Nwanyanwu for his alleged remarks about Wike’s potential presidential ambitions in 2027, calling him a “serial political failure.”

 

Punch

 

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