Rivers political crisis deepens as lawmakers accuse Fubara of insincerity

The political standoff between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the State House of Assembly has intensified following a series of verbal exchanges and accusations.

Since the Supreme Court reinstated the lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, tensions have escalated between the governor and the 27 lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

In an exclusive interview, the Chairman of the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Information and spokesperson of the House, Hon. Enemi George, dismissed several claims made by Governor Fubara as “untrue.”

Lawmakers Deny Blocking 2025 Budget Presentation

Governor Fubara has accused the Assembly of frustrating his efforts to re-present the 2025 budget in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling. However, Hon. George refuted this claim, stating that lawmakers had been urging the governor to present the budget.

“We have been begging the governor to bring the budget. He claimed he wrote to us and attempted to access the House of Assembly Quarters, but we locked him out. That is totally untrue,” George said.

He argued that Fubara had previously written to the Assembly on various matters, including a supplementary budget and commissioner screenings, but had not done the same for the 2025 budget.

READ ALSO: Governor Fubara denied access to State House of Assembly quarters

“The first time, his aide claimed they sent a letter via WhatsApp. That is not a proper process, and even at that, there was no such letter,” George explained, accusing the governor of manipulating public sentiment rather than following due process.

Supreme Court Judgment and Budget Delay

George revealed that immediately after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Assembly wrote to Governor Fubara, requesting him to present the 2025 budget within 48 hours.

“By our estimation, by the 15th of this month, we would have given the budget hearing, so that by the 16th, we could pass it. Within two weeks, we would have completed the process with the federal government, ensuring funds are released and salaries are paid,” he stated.

He stressed the urgency of the matter, noting that pensioners, including his mother, were waiting for payments.

“If the budget is not ready, then it means what he presented to those three lawmakers was just an empty box,” George alleged.

Lawmakers Deny Locking Out Governor Fubara

Responding to claims that the lawmakers barred Governor Fubara from entering the Assembly complex, George described the narrative as misleading. He reminded the public that the governor had previously demolished the House of Assembly complex after it was set ablaze.

“The Assembly now operates from a converted hall in our residential quarters. This is a secured residential area, so the gate is always locked unless a visitor’s name is submitted beforehand. The governor just drove to the gate, staged a press conference for five minutes, and left,” he explained.

READ ALSO: Rivers APC demands Fubara’s resignation over alleged misgovernance 

He emphasized that even if the Assembly were still in its original complex, the governor would have needed to follow proper protocols, including writing to the Speaker for a presentation date.

Dispute over Commissioners’ Legitimacy

George also addressed the Assembly’s request for the governor to re-submit a list of commissioners, arguing that the Supreme Court ruling invalidated previous appointments.

“We told the governor to send us a fresh list, even if it contained the same names. We needed to approve it legally. Instead, he rejected our request and encouraged the commissioners to sue us,” George claimed.

He further alleged that Governor Fubara instructed all government agencies to ignore correspondence from the Assembly.

Lawmakers Question Electoral Commission’s Plans

The Assembly also invited the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli, to provide insights into preparations for the upcoming local government elections. However, George alleged that Enebeli, acting on the governor’s directive, refused to accept the invitation.

“How do we function as an Assembly if we can’t communicate with the executive?” George asked.

Investigating the Chief Judge’s Alleged Age Falsification

Regarding the petition against the Chief Judge of Rivers State over alleged age falsification, George clarified that the Assembly referred the matter to the Department of State Services (DSS) because they lacked the authority to conduct an investigation.

“We sent the petition to a federal agency with investigative powers since we knew any attempt to summon the Chief Judge would be ignored due to the governor’s influence,” he stated.

Clarification on “Indefinite Adjournment”

George dismissed reports that the Assembly had indefinitely adjourned sessions, explaining that “sine die” adjournments are common when a return date is uncertain due to logistics or other issues.

“It doesn’t mean an indefinite adjournment. We can resume tomorrow if the Speaker directs,” he clarified.

No Plans to Impeach Governor Fubara

George denied rumors that the lawmakers were planning to impeach Governor Fubara, stating that no such motion had been introduced in the House.

“Impeachment doesn’t just happen. A motion must be moved, an investigation must be conducted, and guilt must be established. No such discussion has taken place,” he said.

He lamented that Rivers State was at a political standstill, urging all parties to prioritize governance over political interests.

“2027 is still far away. We haven’t even delivered on our mandate, yet we are already playing 2027 politics,” George said.

Withheld Allowances and Financial Strain on the Assembly

George also accused the governor of withholding lawmakers’ allowances for over a year and six months, affecting not just the members but the entire Assembly staff.

“Our institution has nearly 200 staff members. We need funds for operations, including fuel and utilities. Yet, these allowances have been withheld,” he lamented.

As the crisis deepens, it remains uncertain how the face-off between Governor Fubara and the Assembly will be resolved. Political analysts warn that if left unchecked, the situation could further destabilize governance in Rivers State.