In a developing political situation, the Rivers State House of Assembly has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of intentionally delaying the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment. Specifically, the Assembly alleges that the governor is obstructing the re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, a crucial step mandated by the court’s ruling.
The charges were made by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and the Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi George, during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Sunday. George called on the public to hold the governor accountable, urging him to follow due process in presenting the budget instead of trying to sway public opinion by portraying the lawmakers as obstructive.
George challenged the governor to produce evidence of a letter he claimed to have sent to the Assembly regarding his intention to present the appropriation bill. He dismissed the governor’s aides’ explanation that the letter had been sent via WhatsApp to some lawmakers, calling it “awkward, unprofessional, and embarrassing.” The lawmaker emphasized that the Assembly had no record of such a letter and called on the governor to provide an acknowledged copy or any proof of its delivery.
He further accused the governor of undermining the Assembly’s efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis following the Supreme Court’s ruling. George recalled that the Assembly had promptly written to the governor after the judgment, urging him to present the appropriation bill for consideration. The lawmakers had hoped to finalize the process by March 15, 2025, to facilitate the release of federal funds for the state, which had been frozen due to the court’s decision.
However, George claimed that the governor ignored their requests. He recounted how Assembly staff attempting to deliver the letter to the Government House were allegedly assaulted and turned away. Even when the lawmakers used a courier service to deliver the letter, the governor still failed to respond.
