Emma Sunday
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has lambasted Governor Siminalayi Fubara over his decision to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to 3 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to him.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Monday December 30th, 2024 presented a budget proposal of N1.188 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year, to a 3-man faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo. The budget was later passed into law on Thursday January 2, 2025.
Briefing Journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Okocha declared the presentation of the budget to just 3 out of 30 members of the State House of Assembly illegal, null and void.
He criticized Governor Fubara for ignoring the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers which according to him is majority and recognised by law, to present the 2025 budget to 3 members, despite the ruling by Justice Omotosho which mandated that last year’s (2024) budget be represented to the Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule, accusing him (Fubara) of violating court rulings and showing disregard for the rule of law with his actions.
He said, “What is happening in Rivers State is indeed in the shores of tragedy, it can’t be comedy or tragedy.
“It is unfortunate, unthinkable and unimaginable that a Governor who wasn’t thrown down from heaven to become governor. A governor that had risen through the help ranks, if for nothing else, he was a full blown civil servant in the ministry of finance, the governor served as a director of finance and administration, DFA government house, the governor had served as permanent secretary in-charge of funds government house. He also served as accountant general of the state.
“It means off course that he is not a toddler in the business of budgets and how it’s presented, he has witnessed presentations of budgets.
“The presentation of the 2025 budget to three lawmakers is illegal, illegitimate, it is abnormal, an anathema, it can’t stand the test of legal judgment.”
Chief Tony Okocha who said he foresaw greater political hostility in the state in 2025, accused Governor Fubara of fuelling the crisis in the state, rather than fostering peace and reconciliation.
“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,” he said.
Okocha also criticized the governor for allegedly denying the pro-Wike 27 Rivers House of Assembly members their allowances and salaries for about 11 months.
“That is to show you how vindictive the Governor can be. In different judgments, including the mediation by Mr president, there is a clause that says let the state assembly don their jobs unfettered, do not interfere with their business. In other words, in everything including their allowances and their salaries or whatever must be given to them,” he said.
