In a deepening political crisis, the Rivers State House of Assembly has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of deliberately obstructing the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment by delaying the re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill. The lawmakers allege that the governor is prioritizing public sentiment over due process, further escalating tensions between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The accusations were made by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Assembly 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 rather than attempting to portray the Assembly as obstructive.
George challenged the governor to provide evidence of a letter he claimed to have sent to the Assembly, notifying them of his intention to present the budget. “Last week,” George recounted, “the governor stopped at the gate of the House of Assembly Quarters and claimed in a press interview to have sent a letter to the Assembly. This claim was astonishing to us because no such letter was received.”
He dismissed explanations from the governor’s aides that the letter had been forwarded via WhatsApp to some lawmakers, calling the move “awkward, unprofessional, and embarrassing.” George emphasized that the Assembly had no record of such a letter and challenged the governor to produce an acknowledged copy or any proof of its delivery.
“The social media is now flooded with stories of this purported letter,” George continued, “but nothing could be further from the truth. If such a letter was indeed sent, it seems its intended recipient was not the legislature but the public. The governor’s apparent aim is to play to the gallery, whip up public sentiment, and demonize the Assembly. This is demeaning, denigrating, and perilously unfortunate.”
George also accused the governor of frustrating the Assembly’s efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis following the Supreme Court’s judgment. He recalled that the Assembly had promptly written to the governor after the ruling, urging him to present the appropriation bill for consideration. The lawmakers had hoped to conclude the process by March 15, 2025, to expedite the release of federal funds for the state, which had been frozen due to the court’s decision.
However, according to George, the governor ignored their appeals. He detailed how Assembly staff attempting to deliver the letter to the Government House were allegedly assaulted and turned away. When the lawmakers resorted to using a courier service, the governor still failed to respond.
George also highlighted the broader implications of the governor’s actions, noting that the Supreme Court’s judgment had invalidated the appointments of several state commissioners. To address this, the Assembly had requested the governor to submit a new list of nominees for screening. Yet, this letter was also reportedly rejected at the Government House, and the governor allegedly instructed his officials to take legal action against the Assembly instead.
“The governor has gone further,” George said, “to direct all ministries, agencies, and departments to cease all communication with the Rivers State House of Assembly. This is unacceptable. We are an independent arm of government, not an appendage of the executive. Our members are not slaves, bondservants, or serfs. We operate under the principles of horizontal separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
George painted a grim picture of the Assembly’s plight, describing how the lawmakers had endured immense hardship throughout the crisis. He accused the governor of orchestrating the destruction of the Assembly’s chamber and the Speaker’s residence, as well as the demolition of the Assembly Complex, which housed their personal belongings.
“We have seen hell,” George lamented. “Our hallowed chamber was burnt down, our residential quarters were invaded, and our allowances have been withheld for over a year and a half. Yet, despite these injustices, we have chosen to put the interests of the state above our personal grievances. We cannot afford to punish the people of Rivers State because of ego or personal interests.”
George warned that the governor’s actions were endangering the livelihoods of Rivers people. He highlighted the plight of pensioners awaiting their dues, teachers relying on salaries to educate children, and public hospitals and schools dependent on government funding.
“The governor is toying with the lives and livelihoods of Rivers people,” he said. “We must all call on him to do the right thing in the interest of our dear state and its people.”
The ongoing standoff between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Fubara raises concerns about governance and the timely passage of the 2025 budget. Stakeholders are urging both parties to prioritize the interests of Rivers State and resolve the crisis amicably.
