By Abiola Olawale
Following the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has once again written to the state House of Assembly, proposing Wednesday, March 19, 2025, as the date for the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
This latest letter is coming despite advice by Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal Capital Territory(FCT) and Fubara’s main rival in the battle for control of the political soul of Rivers state, to the effect that rather than writing, Fubara could have held a closed door meeting with the House Speaker.
The move comes after a dramatic standoff on Wednesday when the governor and his entourage were reportedly denied access to the Assembly complex to present the budget.
In a letter dated March 13, 2025, addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, and personally signed by the governor, Fubara expressed his intent to comply with a Supreme Court ruling from February 28, 2025.
The New Diplomat reports that the apex court ruling mandates the presentation of the state’s budget to the Amaewhule-led Assembly, which is recognized by the court despite the political rift that has polarized the legislature.
The governor, in the letter, noted that his previous attempt to present the budget on Wednesday, March 12, was thwarted due to what he described as an “unfortunate incident” involving restricted access to the Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt.
“I am writing to formally notify you of my desire and intention to present the 2025 Budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 19th March 2025, by 11:00 a.m., or any other date within March 2025 that the House may deem convenient,” Fubara stated in the letter.
He emphasized that his actions are in line with both the Supreme Court judgment and the Assembly’s earlier 48-hour ultimatum to present the budget, even though he claims the certified true copy of the judgment was not promptly served to his administration.
The New Diplomat reports also that this comes amidst a political crisis in Rivers State, which has deepened in recent months, reportedly driven by a power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The rift has split the state Assembly into two factions: one led by Amaewhule, said to be loyal to Wike, and another led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, who reportedly supports Fubara.
In December 2024, the governor presented an N1.1 trillion budget proposal to the Oko-Jumbo-led faction, a move that was contested and eventually led to the Supreme Court’s intervention.
