Tension In Rivers As 7-Day Budget Ultimatum Approaches Deadline

Amaewhule’s Kinsman Dismisses Ultimatum As Laughable Uncertainty has returned to the political landscape in Rivers State, as the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly’s 7-day ultimatum for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the 2024 budget expires this week.

The ultimatum, issued on July 8, will expire today if weekends are included, or Wednesday if they are not.

The Assembly’s order followed a move by Dumle Maol, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary.

Maol, who also serves as Deputy Speaker of the Pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly, encouraged the House to formally inform the governor to propose the budget in view of a recent court verdict that they feel validated their membership and Amaewhule’s leadership.

The re-presentation of the budget was a significant component of the presidential peace deal signed in December to resolve the political situation in the South-South state.

Previously, Governor Fubara submitted the ₦800 billion budget to the Assembly, led by Edison Ehie, who now serves as the Governor’s Chief of Staff.

Victor Oko-Jumbo currently leads the Assembly faction.

The budget, which was passed and signed into law, is still being implemented, implying that the peace deal has stalled.

Last Monday, Governor Fubara said that his administration is already working on the 2025 budget, indicating that the demand for a re-presentation of the 2024 budget is unachievable.

The problem in Rivers State, which began around eight months ago, has progressed.

It began with a fire in the State House of Assembly in October, followed by an attempted impeachment of Fubara, widespread resignations from the executive cabinet, and discontent with local government administration. This phase concluded with an unsuccessful attack on the Presidential Hotel.

With the deadline for the 2024 budget presentation approaching this week, the political climate in the state appears tight as the assembly and governor negotiate the ongoing dilemma.

Meanwhile, Chijioke Ihunwo, a pro-Fubara politician from the same community as Amaewhule, has dismissed the governor’s seven-day ultimatum as ridiculous.

Ihunwo, the governor’s designated Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, asked Amaewhule to accept his fate as a former assembly member who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

He encouraged the people of the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, which includes Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, to continue to support the Governor, who is led by former Senator John Azuta-Mbata.

The politician, who was chastised for appointing 100 aides last week, stated that the policy, which other CTC Chairmen are also implementing, aims to bring local government administration closer to the people.

He announced that more appointments would be made in the following days to demonstrate the Fubara government’s inclusiveness.