The speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, of constituting a threat to democratic governance in the state.
Earlier on Thursday, the Assembly began impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of “gross misconduct”.
Speaking shortly after the move, Amaewhule criticised Fubara for “deliberately refusing” to present the state budget in line with constitutional provisions.
“Nothing is holding the government from presenting the budget; he chose not to,” Amaewhule said.
He further alleged that the governor had been boasting about leveraging presidential influence against the legislature.
“And the governor has been boasting that he will always go and meet the president, for the president to call us and give us instructions,” he said.
“He has been telling his followers that this assembly, we are nothing but a toothless bulldog, that this 10th House of Assembly cannot do anything and cannot enforce the constitution.”
The speaker described the situation as harmful to democracy in Rivers State.
“This is a sad commentary for our democracy. Sir Siminalayi Fubara and Professor Ngozi Odu, they are nothing but a threat to our democracy,” Amaewhule said.
“If they are allowed to remain in office, I don’t know what will become of our democracy.”
Amaewhule also accused the executive arm of moving around and spending public funds without legislative approval.
“And they are moving about from place to place, spending taxpayers’ money without approval,” he said.
“Part of what led to the first impeachment effort and second impeachment effort has to do with refusal to present budgets.”
He added that several reconciliation efforts involving President Bola Tinubu and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, failed to resolve the crisis.
“Mr President has called several meetings, and our leader, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, has called several meetings,” Amaewhule said.
“He (Fubara) said he will not present the budget, that he is above the constitution, and nothing will happen to him if he does not present it.”
The speaker further alleged that the governor abandoned the 2023 appropriation law while continuing to award contracts and spend public funds without legislative backing.
“Even when we had approval in 2023 for the governor to spend, the governor left the 2023 appropriation law and started awarding contracts to spend,” he said.
Amaewhule described the situation as unprecedented in Rivers State.
“Rivers State has never had it this bad in the entire Nigeria. Siminalayi Fubara is a mistake; he is a mistake,” he said.
According to him, Rivers is the only state in Nigeria—and possibly across West Africa—that has yet to present a budget for the upcoming fiscal year at this time.
“It is unbelievable that in the 21st century, a state like Rivers has neither presented nor passed an appropriation bill for 2026,” Amaewhule said, adding that there is no constitutional barrier preventing the governor from presenting the budget.
Amaewhule also reiterated claims that Fubara had openly told his supporters that the House of Assembly is powerless, allegedly describing lawmakers as “toothless bulldogs” unable to enforce the constitution.