The Rivers State House of Assembly has vehemently denied claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara sent a letter proposing a new date for the presentation of the 2025 budget.
The assembly accused the governor of obstructing the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling and engaging in actions aimed at misleading the public.
Speaking on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Enemi George, the spokesperson of the assembly and chairman of the House Committee on Information, refuted claims made by the governor.
According to George, no letter had been received from Fubara notifying the assembly of a new date for the 2025 budget presentation.
This came after reports suggested that Fubara was blocked from entering the Assembly complex on March 12 when he attempted to present the budget, encountering locked gates upon arrival.
“The governor’s aides later claimed they forwarded the letter via WhatsApp to some members of the house, which is awkward, unprofessional, and embarrassing,” George said.
He further explained that the governor’s press statements, where he claimed to have sent the letter to the assembly, were an attempt to “grandstand” and manipulate public sentiment against the legislative body.
George also criticized Fubara for allegedly trying to demonize the assembly and create a narrative that would stir public emotions.
He called the governor’s actions “demeaning” and “unfortunate.”
The conflict between the governor and the assembly escalated following the Supreme Court ruling on February 28, which affirmed a previous Federal High Court decision barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State.
The apex court also ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the assembly to resume sittings, solidifying the group’s control of the legislative process.
George revealed that after the Supreme Court’s ruling, the assembly immediately reached out to the governor, urging him to submit the appropriation bill for consideration.
The assembly hoped to pass the budget by March 15, 2025, in order to facilitate the release of state funds previously withheld by the federal government due to the court’s decision.
However, Fubara’s failure to comply with the request has further deepened tensions between the two branches of government.
In addition to the budget issue, George recalled that the assembly had also written to the governor requesting the submission of a list of commissioners for prompt screening, following the invalidation of most commissioner appointments by the Supreme Court.
However, the governor rejected this request, and the assembly was forced to use a courier service to deliver their letter.
Instead of engaging with the assembly’s requests, the governor instructed his aides to take legal action against the legislature, a move that has now led to further court disputes.
George stated that these actions were part of a broader strategy to undermine the authority of the assembly and create unnecessary conflict between the executive and legislative branches of government in Rivers State.