The Rivers State House of Assembly has broken its silence following claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara was blocked from presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
The Assembly said it never received any formal request from the governor to present the budget.
Dr. Enemi George, the Assembly’s spokesperson and Chairman of the House Committee on Information, in a statement, described Fubara’s claim as a “comedy skit” designed to paint the lawmakers in a bad light.
He recalled that on March 3, the House had officially written to the governor, asking him to bring the 2025 budget for approval following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“We were the ones who, immediately after that judgment, appealed to the governor to bring his appropriation bill,” George stated. “We acted immediately because we had the interest of the state at heart and didn’t want Rivers people to suffer any harm.”
He emphasized that despite challenges—including the demolition of their chambers and the non-payment of their entitlements for over a year—the lawmakers were committed to passing the budget to ensure the smooth running of the state.
“We indicated our intentions in that letter and even gave him a timeframe because of the urgency of the matter. To regularize his appointments, we also urged him during our subsequent sitting to submit the names of his nominees for commissioners and board members for screening and confirmation,” he added.
George further claimed that Fubara ignored their requests and refused to receive official Assembly documents.
“We sent employees of the Assembly to deliver these resolutions to him, but as usual, they turned them down at the gate and even brutalized them. We then resorted to using a courier company, but he still ignored our call,” he explained.
According to him, the lawmakers had planned to finalize the budget process by March 15 to allow federal agencies to release Rivers State’s allocations by the end of the month.
“But with what he is doing, we don’t know what he wants to achieve. How can he turn around to claim that we blocked him from re-presenting his budget? This is the height of insincerity,” George said.
The House spokesperson insisted that the letter Fubara claimed to have sent to the Speaker was never received. He said lawmakers only saw a copy of the letter circulating on social media after their sitting on Wednesday.
“Even the letter trending on social media was dated March 11. Does it mean that the governor supposedly sent a letter on Tuesday—God knows when—and then immediately showed up at the Assembly quarters on Wednesday morning, claiming he came to present his budget? That alone undermines his claim,” he said.
George argued that proper procedure required the governor to wait for lawmakers to acknowledge receipt of his request and officially invite him for the budget presentation.
“Governor Fubara ought to know this if he is sincere. But all we know is that this Assembly will continue to uphold the rule of law and remain committed to promoting the interests of Rivers State,” he stated.
He urged the governor to act responsibly and ensure that Rivers people do not suffer due to political disagreements.
“We urge him to do the needful so that Rivers people can breathe. He is toying with the lives and livelihood of Rivers people,” George concluded.
