The governor of Rivers State, Siminalya Fubara has signed the 1.188 trillion 2025 Appropriation into law yesterday, January 2nd 2025.
But
There is a little but there, something that needed to be taken care of before that was done. There is something that Fubara’s government should have done.
Let me take you through it,
After the bill was drafted it was meant to be introduces to the legislature which is the House of Representatives. Then it should have been given to committee to work on. Debate would be carried out and then the bill moves to another chamber. If the second Chamber review the bill, like what they see and approve it is signed into law.
If the second chamber does not agree or feels like it need ammendments. It would be sent back to the first chamber. Once an agreement is made, it is signed by the governor and made public. Implementation takes place. So all of this is expected to have happened at Rivers State.
For River State, only one Assembly worked on the bill passed, so the governor had to address that. He stated that the state had only one Assembly. This is due to the fact that 27 members decided to leave.
The other Assembly was supposed to be 32 and out of 32 people. 27 remains loyal to the former Governor of the State and makes their disapproval blatant to the present Governor.
He said, “I want to say this, maybe for some persons somewhere who are still mixing up issues. We have only one Assembly and that Assembly is headed by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.
“A group of friends about nine months ago embarked on what is called the sea-bared journey; halfway through the vessel, while they were coasting, they realized that they were entering the den of devils and sharks, and they now want to retreat.
We expect you to do more because we have a bigger task ahead of us. We have made some promises to our people; education, health and agriculture. We must make sure we make good impact just like we have done in the areas of road and other aspects of the economy.
The governor denied any division among the members of the Assembly but rather made it known that the state only as one.
He also addressed the 27 members stating it was too late. Fubara explained that the members are devoted to the former Governor of the state Nyesom Wike
“It is too late, and the truth is that we are not going back. We have given them enough room for peace. There is no governor in Nigeria who can take the kind of insult I took from those set of people.
“As it stands now, our major target is the interest of Rivers State, and we will continue to defend the integrity of governance. As far as I am concerned, we have moved on.”
Fubara explained that he would keep up his performance at Rivers State. He said that his focus now is to defend the State’s Interest and with the budget signed everything needed to do that becomes ready to be used to their disposal.
He said, “We will make sure that we kick-start, so that the record of performance that was accorded by this administration in the year 2024 will be higher in this year, 2025.
“Let me first thank the Rivers State House of Assembly for doing a very diligent job, and also realising the task that we have ahead of us, which is to continue to work for Rivers people. So, I want to thank you for working very hard and ensuring that we hit the ground running in this New Year.”
Fubara also applauded members of the State Executive Council, especially the Deputy Governor, for their support and cooperation, and specifically thanked the Commissioners for Finance and Budget, as well as the acting Chairman of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Board, for their contributions.
He noted, “We expect you to do more because we have a bigger task ahead of us. We have made some promises to our people; education, health and agriculture. We must make sure we make good impact just like we have done in the areas of road and other aspects of the economy.
“We made a promise to you (Rivers people) that we will continue to protect, defend, and promote the interest of our dear state.”
The Speaker, Oko Jumbo spoke about the growth he has seen under the present administration. He pointed out that He has seen growth in different sectors like education, security, welfare and others.
He said, “Your Excellency, 2025 promises to be a year of strategic planning and partnership. We have no doubt that you will carry out the task of developing and delivering the dividends of democracy to every nook and cranny of Rivers State.
“So, Your Excellency, on behalf of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, we want to say thank you for being the people’s governor, and thank you for the strategic partnership with the legislature.”
Meanwhile, there has been a sort of reverse reaction from the opposition party APC. The State’s APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha spoke on this at his residence in Port Harcourt.
He condemned Fubara decision and described it as illegal.
Okocha referenced a January 2024 ruling by Justice James Omotosho, which mandated that budgets should be presented to the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Martins Amaewhule.
Okocha said, “It is unimaginable and unthinkable that a governor with such a rich background in finance and governance would choose to sidestep legal processes.
“The Assembly has 30 functional members, yet the budget was presented in a setting that courts have described as illegitimate.
“At least, he has seen the presentation of the budget, and I want to avail you people of the opportunity of the fact that I was Chief of Staff and that spanned through 2012-2015. What it means is that I have witnessed three budget presentations
“In this sense, an Assembly of 32, we lost one to death, one claimed to have resigned, and then we have 30 functional Assembly seats. Twenty-seven of the Assembly members are on this side, three members of the Assembly are on this side. Is it not an anathema that a budget of a state as prominent and as important as Rivers State will be presented to an illegal setting?
“The Court of Appeal, in their various judgments on issues like this, have touched on these issues, and I refer to them as a forum, maybe a forum of friends but certainly not legislators.”
“I expected the governor to use the new year to extend an olive branch and promote peace, but instead, he continues to fuel the flames of division.”
On this, I am genuinely curious and I want to know what you think. Do you feel the Governor’s action is justified or you feel he was supposed to know better.
