Following the drama that ensued at the Rivers State House of Assembly, members have rejected claims by the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that he was denied access to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
According to the Assembly, it never received any official communication from the governor indicating his intention to present the bill.
The spokesperson of the House and Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Enemi Alabo George, described the governor’s claims as a “comedy skit” designed to tarnish the Assembly’s image.
George recalled that on March 3, the Assembly had written to the governor, urging him to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill following the Supreme Court judgment.
He also explained the Assembly had urged the governor to submit the names of his nominees for commissioner and board positions for screening and confirmation.
However, according to him, the governor rebuffed their pleas, and the Assembly’s employees were turned down at the gate and allegedly brutalized.
According to George, “Our intention was to finish everything about the budget on March 15 so that we could send necessary information and documents to relevant agencies of the government to allow the release of Rivers’ allocations at the end of March. But with what he is doing, we don’t know what he wants to achieve.
“How can he turn around to claim that we blocked him from re-presenting his budget? This is the height of insincerity”, he said.
George added that the Assembly eventually resorted to using a courier service to deliver their resolutions.
He insisted that the letter the governor claimed he sent to the Speaker never got to him, adding that it was after Wednesday’s sitting that the lawmakers saw the letter flying on social media.
“But all we know is that this Assembly will continue to uphold the rule of law and will remain committed to promoting the interest of Rivers State. We urge him to do the needful so that Rivers people can breathe. He is toying with the lives and livelihood of Rivers people”, he said.
