Seven-Day Budget Ultimatum Deadline Causes Tension In Rivers

Seven-Day Budget Ultimatum Deadline Causes Tension In Rivers

Political uncertainty has returned to Rivers State as the deadline approaches for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the 2024 budget, following a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

This ultimatum, set to expire this week, stems from a motion by Dumle Maol, Deputy Speaker of the Pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly, calling for compliance with a court ruling that affirmed the assembly’s current membership and leadership.

The demand for budget resubmission aligns with a presidential peace pact from December aimed at quelling the state’s ongoing political crisis.

Despite this, Governor Fubara, who had previously submitted the ₦800 billion budget to an Edison Ehie-led Assembly, announced plans for the 2025 budget, signalling a potential dismissal of the assembly’s demands.

The ongoing crisis in Rivers began with a series of dramatic events, including a fire at the State House of Assembly and an attempted impeachment of Governor Fubara.

The faction of 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.

Meanwhile,  a pro-Fubara politician from the same community as Amaewhule, Chijioke Ihunwo, 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.