Fubara pushing Rivers towards fresh crisis – Speaker

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of deliberately sidelining lawmakers and “setting the stage for another crisis” in the state.

Amaewhule, flanked by 10 lawmakers, addressed reporters in Port Harcourt on Thursday in response to Fubara’s Wednesday comments.

The governor had lamented that his political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, had yet to fulfil his promise to convene a meeting between him and the Wike-aligned lawmakers.

Fubara, during a project inauguration on Wednesday, said he was committed to peace and willing to meet all demands of the lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister.

But reacting, Amaewhule accused the governor of lying, sidelining the Assembly, and being “reactionary,” citing the state of education as an example.

According to him, contrary to Fubara’s claims, Wike had convened several meetings in Abuja and Port Harcourt where the governor and lawmakers were physically present.

Amaewhule alleged that since assuming office, Fubara had shown no willingness to work with the House, accusing him of spending from both the 2024 and 2025 budgets without legislative approval.

He also accused the governor of reneging on all agreements previously reached with lawmakers, saying he was “preparing the grounds for another round of crisis” while the Assembly remained committed to peace and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

The Speaker further alleged that Fubara planned to use the N600bn reportedly left behind by the former administrator of the state under emergency rule, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), “to divide lawmakers and for other frivolities.”

He urged the governor to “brace up to be the true leader Rivers people desire,” adding that the public had “suffered too much because of the governor’s alleged indolence.”

Amaewhule said, “Everybody is aware that we are currently on recess, meeting with our constituents… But we all know that a lie told often enough becomes the truth… which is why as the Speaker… I think it is incumbent on me to set the record straight.”

He continued, “The governor alleged that he has not been able to meet with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly because the FCT Minister… has refused to make that possible… We were so disheartened hearing that from our governor… coming at a time when Rivers people are yearning for peace and good governance.”

Describing Fubara’s claim as “unnecessary and condemnable,” Amaewhule said, “What the governor is trying to do is to set the stage for another crisis in Rivers State… The governor merely lied to Rivers people… Shortly after the emergency rule was terminated… the FCT Minister summoned a meeting between the governor and us… We met with him in Abuja.”

He added that further meetings were held in Port Harcourt at the residence of the Chairman of the Elders’ Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.

The Speaker said, “How many meetings have I mentioned? How many meetings does the governor want the FCT Minister to call? Is it a hundred?”

Amaewhule further alleged that Fubara had refused to present the budget for the remaining part of 2025.

He added, “In that meeting, the governor told us blatantly that he would not bring a budget… From September when we met… the governor has been spending without our approval… awarding contracts to his cronies… particularly those who masterminded the burning of the Rivers House of Assembly.”

He added, “The governor does not seek the approval of the Rivers House of Assembly to spend. He has been spending from his front pockets.”

On the state’s finances during emergency rule, Amaewhule reiterated that, “The outgoing administrator… left over N600bn in the accounts of Rivers State… The governor has been spending it, boasting how he will use the funds to divide the Assembly members.”

He stressed that lawmakers were not for sale, saying, “Members, are you for sale? No. Not at all!”

Amaewhule faulted Fubara’s leadership style, saying, “The governor should know… he ought to be a leader… But at the moment, the governor is failing… Disparaging the FCT Minister is not leadership at all… Sending his attack dogs… to insult us on social media won’t help the governor.”

He accused the governor’s media allies of constantly attacking lawmakers online, saying, “Those he is using to insult assembly members… he gives them money, they go to all the television stations and insult us.”