Rivers State lawmakers have disagreed with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s claim that some elders were blocking his efforts to meet with them.
Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule, speaking in Port Harcourt, called the governor’s statement about Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s failure to arrange a meeting “disparaging.”
Amaewhule said the lawmakers met with the governor several times after the emergency rule, but Fubara refused to act on the decisions made during those meetings.
He reminded that Wike had arranged a meeting between the 27 members of the Assembly and the governor at the minister’s official residence in Abuja.
Another meeting was also set up by Wike, involving members of the Elders Council, some lawmakers, and the governor at the home of local government chairman Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.
Amaewhule criticized the governor for attacking the minister and Alabraba despite these meetings taking place.
He also recalled that in one meeting, Fubara told the lawmakers he would not present any more Appropriation Bills to the Assembly.
The Speaker expressed regret that the Assembly was kept in the dark about the governor’s actions and accused Fubara of spending money without their approval.
He said, “After the emergency rule, we asked the governor to bring his budget so we could support his plans. But in 2024 and 2025, he spent without appropriation.
“In a meeting, the governor openly said he would not bring the budget. We stayed quiet, hoping he would do the right thing.
“Since September, he has been spending without our approval and awarding contracts to his friends, including those involved in burning the Rivers State House of Assembly. They seem proud of being rewarded for that act.
“The governor does not seek the Assembly’s approval and spends money from his own pocket.
“The governor’s outburst led to this press conference. We want to set the record straight. The FCT Minister wants peace and progress for Rivers State.
“All 27 members of the Assembly attended a meeting with the governor at the minister’s residence in Abuja. We were surprised when the governor said no meeting happened.
“After the emergency rule, the FCT Minister also arranged a meeting at Chief Alabraba’s residence in Port Harcourt with the Elders Council and some lawmakers.
“How many meetings does the governor want? Is it 100? We avoided this press conference to keep peace after the President’s intervention.
“We stayed silent even when the governor refused to bring his appropriation bill.”
Amaewhule added that investigations showed the previous Rivers Administrator left about N600 billion in the state’s accounts.
He suggested the governor’s anger might be because the House Committee on Education reported the poor state of educational infrastructure under Fubara’s leadership.
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