Rivers State House of Assembly has accused the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, of frustrating the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgement especially the aspect requiring him to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
The Assembly called on members of the public to compel the Governor to sincerely follow the established due process in presenting the Appropriation bill instead of playing to the gallery; whipping up public sentiment with a motive to demonize the lawmakers.
The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Spokesperson of the House, Dr. Enemi Alabo George, who spoke today in Port Harcourt, challenged the Governor to produce the acknowledged copy of the lettert he sent to the House.
Dr.George said the Governor frustrated all the efforts of the House to work with him to resolve the lingering crisis immediately after the Supreme Court judgement particularly on the aspect of presenting the Appropriation Bill in the interest of the state.
He recalled that after the recent Supreme court judgement on the budget of the state, it became absolutely necessary for the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Joseph Fubara to present the appropriation bill to the legislature for consideration and passage.
The lawmaker pointed out that the Governor must be reminded that the House of Assembly is not an appendage of the Executive and its members are not his slaves, bondservants and serfs.
Dr. George said the House had hoped that such strong words from the Supreme Court would help purge the Governor of such despotic ways.
He said as an Assembly, the lawmakers were severely solicitous of progress of the state adding that one man should not be allowed to hold everybody in the state to ransom because of his ego.
Dr. George called on everybody to collectively call on the governor to do the right thing in the right and lawful way to allow the state make progress.
He said the Assembly was the worst hit in the ongoing crisis lamenting that the lawmakers had suffered untold hardship insisting that the governor must be stopped from extending such punishment to Rivers people.
In his response Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Barrister Joseph Johnson said the Martins Amaewhule led House of Assembly is fond of denying everything concerning Governor.
He regretted that it is only the Assembly that is yet to receive the letter that is in public domain.
