NEWS
RIVERS STATE ASSEMBLY FIRES BACK AT GOVERNOR FUBARA, ACCUSES HIM OF LYING, CONTRACT MISCONDUCT, AND ATTEMPTS TO BUY LAWMAKERS
The political tension in Rivers State escalated on Thursday evening as the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) held a press briefing to counter comments made by Governor Siminalayi Fubara during a road commissioning ceremony the previous day. Addressing journalists on behalf of the lawmakers, Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule delivered a strongly worded response that laid out a series of allegations and accusations against the governor.
In their detailed briefing, the lawmakers dismissed the governor’s remarks as false and misleading. They insisted that Governor Fubara had lied when he claimed he had not met with members of the Assembly.
According to them, following the directive of the President during the political crisis, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, convened a reconciliation meeting attended by the governor and the lawmakers. They said two such meetings took place, first at the residence of the FCT Minister, and a second at the home of Ferdinand Alabraba, yet Governor Fubara allegedly reneged on the agreements reached.
Describing the governor’s comments as unnecessary, condemnable, and capable of reigniting another round of political turmoil in the state, the lawmakers warned that such statements were dangerous and inimical to ongoing peace efforts.
The Assembly further accused the governor of allegedly disparaging the person of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, through his remarks at the commissioning event. They argued that the governor’s utterances were designed to smear Wike’s reputation and undermine his role in the state’s political stability.
The lawmakers also alleged that Governor Fubara had been spending public funds and awarding contracts to his close associates without seeking the mandatory ratification or approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a major revelation, the legislators insisted that the immediate past Sole Administrator left behind a balance of ₦600 billion, contradicting any impression of depleted state finances.
The Assembly members also accused the governor of allegedly attempting to use state resources to “buy off” lawmakers, stressing that the Assembly is not for sale and will not succumb to political inducements.
Reaffirming their loyalty to the people of Rivers State, the lawmakers pledged continued dedication to peace, stability, and the implementation of the reconciliation process midwifed by the President.
The widening rift between Governor Fubara and the Assembly appears far from resolution, raising fears of renewed political instability in one of Nigeria’s most critical oil-rich states.
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RSHA ON GOVERNOR FUBARA’S YESTERDAY’S COMMENTS
The River State House of Assembly this evening briefed journalists on comments made by the governor during a road commissioning yesterday
The speaker of the Assembly Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule briefed journalists on behalf of the lawmakers
1. According to the lawmakers, Gov Fubara lied when he said he had not met with them..
They said the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike following the directive of the president, summoned a meeting between them and the governor after the emergency rule . They said they have met with the governor twice. First in the house of the FCT minister and second in the house of Ferdinand Alabraba. Yet he has failed on the teams of the meetings
2. They described the comments of the governor as Unnecessary, Condemnable and that which is capable of setting the stage for another round of crisis in Rivers State
3. They accused the governor of allegedly disparaging the person of the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, through his comments
5. The Lawmakers also accused Gov Fubara of allegedly spending and awarding contracts to his cronies without seeking ratification from the house of Assembly
I6. They insisted that the out-gone Sole admistrator left N600bn behind
7. They also accused the governor of allegedly plotting to use Rivers funds to buy off Assembly members , insisting that the Assembly members are not for sale
8. They also also expressed commitment to serving the interest of Rivers people and the peace process that was mid-wifed by the president