Uncertainty has once again gripped the political landscape in Rivers State as the 7-day ultimatum by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the 2024 budget reaches its deadline this week.
The ultimatum, issued on July 8, expires today if weekends are counted or on Wednesday if they are excluded.
The Assembly’s order followed a motion by Dumle Maol, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary. Maol, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the Pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly, urged the House to formally notify the governor to present the budget, citing a recent court ruling they believe affirmed their membership and validated Amaewhule’s leadership.
The re-presentation of the budget was a key element of the presidential peace pact in December, aimed at resolving the political crisis in the South-South state. Previously, Governor Fubara had submitted the ₦800bn budget to the Assembly led by Edison Ehie, who now serves as the Governor’s Chief of Staff. The Assembly is now led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
The budget, which was passed and signed into law, is still being implemented, suggesting that the peace agreement has faltered. Last week, Governor Fubara announced that his administration is already preparing the 2025 budget, indicating that the demand for the re-presentation of the 2024 budget is unrealistic.
The crisis in Rivers State, which began about eight months ago, has continued to evolve. It started with a fire at the State House of Assembly in October, followed by an attempted impeachment of Fubara, massive resignations from the executive cabinet, and unrest over local government administration. This phase culminated in a failed attack on the Presidential Hotel.
With the deadline for the 2024 budget presentation set for this week, the political climate in the state appears tense as the assembly and the governor navigate the ongoing crisis.
Meanwhile, Chijioke Ihunwo, a pro-Fubara politician from the same community as Amaewhule, has dismissed the 7-day ultimatum on the governor as laughable.
Ihunwo, who was appointed by the governor as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, urged Amaewhule to accept his fate as a former assembly member, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
He encouraged the people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, comprising Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, to continue supporting the Governor under the leadership of former Senator John Azuta-Mbata.
The politician, who was criticised for appointing 100 aides last week, said the decision which other CTC Chairmen are also implementing is aimed at bringing local government administration closer to the grassroots.
He announced that more appointments would be made in the coming days, to demonstrate that the Fubara-led government is inclusive.