March 17, 2025
The Rivers State government has accused the State House of Assembly of blocking Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s attempt to implement the Supreme Court judgment to re-present the 2025 appropriation bill to the house contrary to claims by the Martin Amaewhule led 26 lawmakers that the Governor has disregarded the supreme court judgement.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Rivers State commissioner for information and communications, Joe Johnson, said that Governor Fubara, despite a supreme court judgement that delved into matters that was not brought before it, had initiated moves to re-present the 2025 budget in accordance with the judgement
“A few days after the Friday, February 28, 2025 shocking judgment of the Supreme Court on the consolidated cases touching on the seizure of federation revenue allocation due the state, annulment of the credible, free, fair and peaceful Local Government elections of Saturday, October 5, 2024, re-presentation of the 2025 budget to the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly and the most contentious defection issue (which was never before the Apex Court, but surprisingly vaguely touched by the learned jurists of the 5-man panel), Governor Siminalayi Fubara has never left anyone in doubt about his preparedness not only to obey, but fully implement the Supreme Court judgment, no matter the unfortunate and unfavourable outcome”.
Johnson, stated that in a statewide broadcast a few days after the judgment, Governor declared his acceptance of the judgement and made an unambiguous commitment to full compliance and implementation.
“In that broadcast, he ordered the recently duly elected LGA Chairmen ousted by the Apex Court, to immediately hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs), even as he appealed to his supporters who are sad over the judgment to accept it with equanimity”.
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“The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) under the leadership of its indefatigable Chairman and Chief Electoral Officer, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd.), in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict, convened a stakeholders meeting wherein all registered political parties in the state, nongovernmental organizations , Civil Society organizations, the Press and general public were invited to attend at their headquarters in Port Harcourt.”
“At that stakeholders meeting, the Electoral umpire set the ball rolling for conduct of a fresh LGAs elections by releasing the elections timetable and elections guidelines, fixing August 9, 2025 for the exercise.”
The commissioner of information, further stated that while the state government was yet to receive the certified true copy, CTC of the judgement, the Rivers State House of Assembly in a frenzy, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the State Chief Executive to re-represent the 2025 budget.
“While Rivers people were yet to digest the unfolding drama, the Rt. Amaewhule-led House issued another 48-hour ultimatum to the Chairman of RSIEC, the highly respected retired Justice Enebeli, who was appointed RSIEC Chairman by the former governor of the state and current FCT Minister, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike”.
“They followed this bizarre action up with the issuance of a warrant of arrest of the gentleman and Commissioners of RSIEC.”
“Not done with that, they declared the appointment of 19 Commissioners by Governor Fubara as illegal, prompting the affected Commissioners to drag Amaewhule and his colleagues to court.”
“As if they are bent on fighting at all fronts, these lawmakers who should be settling to the business of law making for the good governance of Rivers State, accused the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi of age falsification, even inviting the operatives of the DSS to investigate him instead of reporting him to the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) the only authorized body responsible for investigation and discipline of judicial officers across the federation.”
With good intentions and to ensure Rivers state does not suffer the attendant effects of withheld federal allocation to the state, the government through the secretary to the state government, Barr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, wrote to the house of assembly to pave the way for rapprochement for the smooth operations of the Executive and Legislative arms of government.
“Sadly, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accompanied by government officials, were denied access into the Legislative Quarters where the RSHA members currently hold their sitting on the appointed day, that is, Wednesday, March 12, 2025”.
“It is worrisome to hear the lawmakers alleging that Governor Fubara did not communicate properly, falsely claiming that his letter to them was only read on social media”
“Following the refusal by the Assembly to receive and acknowledge the Governor’s letter, delivered by government officials and a courier company, the Rivers State Government took the initiative of publishing the letter in two national dailies – The Nation and The Guardian – on Friday the 14th of March, 2025. It would be uncharitable to claim that the Governor’s letter was published on social media and not formally delivered to the Assembly.”
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“It is glaringly clear that with the current actions of the House, the dire consequences and harsh realities that the civil servants, retirees and people of the state will face UNIMAGINABLE economic hardships, as the government will be unable to pay salaries, pensions and other emoluments as well as perform other obligations at the end of the month, as both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation have been ordered to seize revenue allocations to the state until its judgment is fully implemented”.
The Rivers state government, has therefore in the interest of the people urged the assembly members to stealth their swords and join hands with the governor in putting the state first.
“Should this opportunity to pull the state from the precipice fail, the people and residents of the state without exception are bound to suffer avoidable calamities of economic, social and political upheavals that might sink us deeper into unimaginable crises.”
