In a deepening political standoff, the Rivers State House of Assembly has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of deliberately obstructing the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment. The lawmakers allege that the governor is hindering the re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, a step mandated by the court’s ruling.
During a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and the Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi George, called on the public to hold the governor accountable. He urged Fubara to follow due process in presenting the budget rather than portraying lawmakers as obstructionists.
George challenged the governor to provide proof of a letter he claimed to have sent to the Assembly, notifying them of his intent to present the budget.
“Last week,” George recalled, “the governor stopped at the gate of the Assembly Quarters on his way to an event in Ogoni and granted an interview, stating that he had sent a letter notifying us of his plan. This claim was astonishing because no such letter was received.”
Dismissing the explanation from the governor’s aides that the letter was sent via WhatsApp to some lawmakers, George described the move as “awkward, unprofessional, and embarrassing.” He maintained that the Assembly had no official record of such a letter and demanded an acknowledged copy as proof of its delivery.
“Social media is now flooded with stories of this purported letter,” George continued. “But nothing could be further from the truth. If such a letter was indeed sent, it was clearly intended for the public, not the legislature. The governor is playing to the gallery, whipping up sentiment, and demonizing the Assembly. This is demeaning, denigrating, and perilously unfortunate.”
George further accused the governor of frustrating efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis following the Supreme Court’s ruling. He revealed that the Assembly had written to the governor, urging him to present the budget promptly to facilitate the release of federal funds, which had been frozen due to the legal dispute.
However, according to George, the governor ignored their appeals. He alleged that Assembly staff attempting to deliver the letter to the Government House were assaulted and turned away. Even when lawmakers resorted to using a courier service, the governor reportedly failed to respond.
The lawmaker also highlighted the fallout of the Supreme Court judgment, which invalidated the appointments of several state commissioners. The Assembly, he said, had requested the governor to submit a new list of nominees for screening. However, this request was also rebuffed, with officials allegedly instructed to take legal action against the legislature instead.
“The governor has gone further,” George said, “to direct all ministries, agencies, and departments to cease communication with the Rivers State House of Assembly. This is unacceptable. We are an independent arm of government, not an appendage of the executive. Our members are not slaves, bondservants, or serfs. We operate under the principles of horizontal separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
George painted a dire picture of the lawmakers’ situation, alleging that they had faced significant hardship throughout the crisis. He accused the governor of orchestrating the destruction of the Assembly chamber and Speaker’s residence, as well as the demolition of the Assembly Complex, which housed their personal belongings.
“We have seen hell,” he lamented. “Our hallowed chamber was burnt down, our residential quarters were invaded, and our allowances have been withheld for over a year and a half. Yet, despite these injustices, we have chosen to put the interests of the state above our personal grievances. We cannot afford to punish the people of Rivers State because of ego or personal interests.”
George warned that the governor’s actions were jeopardizing the livelihoods of Rivers residents. He pointed to pensioners awaiting their dues, teachers depending on salaries, and public hospitals and schools reliant on government funding.
“The governor is toying with the lives and livelihoods of Rivers people,” he said. “We must all call on him to do the right thing in the interest of our dear state and its people.”
