The Rivers State House of Assembly has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of insincerity in his handling of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which mandated him to resubmit the 2025 budget.
The Assembly claims they did not receive any official communication from the governor regarding the budget presentation, despite his public statements.
In a Sunday press briefing, Enemi George, the spokesman for the Assembly, challenged Fubara to provide proof of the letter he claimed to have sent to the legislature. “We categorically state that no such letter has been received by the House or its staff,” George asserted.
He criticized Fubara for trying to manipulate public sentiment by making misleading claims about the communication.
Governor Fubara’s aides, however, maintained that a letter had been sent to the Assembly, and Joseph Johnson, the state’s Commissioner for Information, reaffirmed, “The governor’s letter was well-constructed, properly addressed, and clearly articulated.” He also proposed March 19 as the new date for the budget presentation.
George, however, highlighted the ongoing tensions, including rejected letters and incidents where lawmakers were assaulted while trying to engage with the governor.
He also emphasized that the Assembly is an independent body, accusing Fubara of attempting to undermine its authority.
The political dispute continues to strain relations in Rivers State, with lawmakers urging the governor to resolve the matter swiftly to avoid further disruptions to governance.