In a dramatic session on Monday, the Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule, decisively halted all expenditures by Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration until he presents the 2024 budget before the lawmakers.
The move came following a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Assembly to Governor Fubara, demanding the prompt submission of the state budget.
During the plenary session, Major Jack, the Leader of the House, brought attention to the expiry of this ultimatum.
After extensive deliberation, the Assembly took a vote to effectively freeze the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, preventing any further spending by the Fubara administration without legislative approval.
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It will be recalled that the Amaewhule-led Assembly had initially set the deadline on July 8, 2024, expressing concerns over constitutional breaches by Governor Fubara. The Assembly, in a letter dated the same day and signed by Martin Amaewhule, accused the governor of failing to adhere to constitutional provisions.
This development unfolded during the first session of the Assembly aligned with the faction supporting former Governor Nyesom Wike, marking a significant shift after months of political tension.
Previously, Governor Fubara had submitted the budget to a different faction of the House, presided over by his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, who acted as Speaker. This faction approved the budget estimates, subsequently signed into law by the governor.
The ongoing rift between Governor Fubara’s supporters and those aligned with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, has been a persistent feature of Rivers State politics, often prompting interventions to mediate their differences.
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