The Rivers State House of Assembly has raised serious allegations against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of deliberately hindering the implementation of a Supreme Court ruling. The ruling mandates that the governor should re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly for proper legislative review and passage.
Speaking through its Chairman of the House Committee on Information and official spokesperson, Dr. Enemi George, the Assembly stated that Governor Fubara has not shown any genuine intention to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive. Dr. George, who addressed journalists in Port Harcourt on Sunday, emphasized that the governor was attempting to manipulate public opinion rather than adhering to due process.
According to George, instead of properly submitting the budget to the Assembly as required, the governor has been making public statements aimed at painting the lawmakers as obstacles to the state’s progress. He challenged the governor to provide evidence, such as a duly acknowledged letter, proving that he had made any formal attempt to engage the House on presenting the budget.
George recounted that during a media chat, the governor claimed he had sent a letter to the Assembly expressing his willingness to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill. However, George described this claim as false and misleading, noting that no such communication was ever received. He added that it was shocking to later hear the governor’s aides allege that they sent such a letter via WhatsApp — a move George described as unprofessional and disrespectful to a legislative institution.
“As I speak now, there are reports circulating online about a supposed letter from the governor requesting to present the budget,” George said. “But let me state clearly: there is no such letter before the House. If such a letter exists, let them produce a copy that shows we acknowledged receiving it. These claims are false and meant to mislead the public.”
He insisted that if the governor had genuinely written such a letter, it seemed more like a public relations stunt than a formal communication with the Assembly. “Rather than reaching out to us as lawmakers, it appears the governor was more interested in gaining public sympathy and turning the people against the House,” he added.
Furthermore, George disclosed that following the Supreme Court ruling that nullified the previous budget process, the Assembly had formally reached out to Governor Fubara, urging him to present a fresh budget to avoid governance breakdown in the state. He said the Assembly had hoped to work swiftly with the governor to ensure that the state’s financial matters were resolved before mid-March 2025.
“Our appeal to the governor was made in good faith,” George explained. “We wanted to pass the budget quickly so that funds allocated to Rivers State but withheld due to the Supreme Court ruling could be released by the Federal Government. But despite our efforts, the governor ignored us.”
In a shocking revelation, George said that Assembly staff who tried to deliver official correspondence to the Government House were assaulted and chased away. As a result, the lawmakers resorted to sending letters through courier services, but even those were allegedly disregarded by the governor.
He also pointed out that when the Supreme Court invalidated the appointment of several state commissioners, the Assembly wrote to the governor, asking him to send new nominees for screening and confirmation. However, that effort also met a brick wall.
“The governor refused to act and instead filed a lawsuit against the Assembly,” George said. “He even directed all ministries, departments, and agencies in the state not to communicate with us or accept any letter from the Assembly. This is a direct affront to the principle of separation of powers as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.”
George stressed that the legislature is not an extension of the executive and that lawmakers are not subordinates to the governor. Citing Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Nigerian Constitution, he emphasized that the three arms of government must operate independently but collaboratively to serve the people.”The governor must understand that the Assembly is not his appendage. We are an independent institution meant to check the excesses of the executive, and this is clearly captured in our constitution,” George asserted.He lamented that since the political crisis in the state began, members of the Assembly have faced severe challenges and personal losses.
“This Assembly has suffered greatly. Our chamber was set ablaze, and the entire Assembly complex was demolished. Our personal belongings were destroyed. Even the residence of our Speaker was attacked. These are attacks aimed at weakening us and forcing us to submit, but we have remained resolute for the sake of Rivers people,” George said.
He went on to highlight that the prolonged impasse has had a negative impact on the general populace. George warned that if Governor Fubara continues to delay the budget presentation, critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and social welfare would suffer — thereby worsening the lives of ordinary citizens.
“The lives and livelihoods of Rivers people are at stake,” he said. “Pensioners need to be paid. Teachers and healthcare workers deserve their salaries. Hospitals and schools need funds to function. These are the realities the governor is ignoring while he plays political games.”
George also revealed that lawmakers’ allowances have been withheld for over a year and six months, but despite these hardships, they have chosen to remain focused on their constitutional duties.
“Our allowances have been seized, and yet we continue to show up to perform our roles. But we cannot continue like this if the state is to progress. Rivers people must not be made to suffer because of one man’s ego and pride. This must stop now,” he declared.In closing, George called on Rivers citizens to demand accountability from the governor and to urge him to do what is right for the sake of the state’s future.
“We owe it to our people to ensure governance continues smoothly. The governor must drop this combative stance and work with us. We are ready to put the past behind us, but he must take the first step by re-presenting the budget properly, as the law requires,” he concluded.
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