Upon resumption on Monday following the Supreme Court judgement, the Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Sim Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget to the lawmakers. The lawmakers made this known during plenary in Port Harcourt
On January 2nd, Governor Fubara signed the ₦1.1 trillion 2025 Budget into law after presenting it to Victor Oko-Jumbo-led legislators.
However, months later, specifically last week, the Supreme Court ordered Martin Amaewhule and the group of legislators he leads to resume their seats as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
That move brought an end to months of squabbling over the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which saw two groups of lawmakers vying for the position.
However, in their first sitting after the historic judgement, the Rivers State Assembly asked Fubara to present the bill he had christened “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,” adding a fresh layer of twist to the political events in the oil-rich state.
Aside from directing Amaewhule and other lawmakers to resume sitting, the Supreme Court also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold funds for Rivers until it cleans up what the court described as egregious disobedience to court orders.
It also voided the Rivers State local government elections held last year.
Following the verdict, Fubara called for fresh council elections in the state, promising to follow the Supreme Court’s decision.
“Furthermore, given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission,” the governor said in a state broadcast on Sunday.
He asked the “outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over the levers of power to the Heads of Local Government Administration by Monday, 3rd March 2025”.
Meanwhile, Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured his supporters that victory is inevitable, despite the political challenges in the state.
While reaffirming his commitment to peace, Fubara stated that when the time comes, the necessary decisions will be made in the best interest of the state.
The governor, while commissioning the Government House Staff Quarters at the Forces Avenue, Opposite Government House in Port Harcourt, assured the immediate past council chairmen in attendance that there was no reason for concern.
Before addressing the crowd, Fuubara opened his speech with a passage from the Holy Bible, Philippians 3:18-19, emphasising faith and resilience in the face of challenges.
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things,” the governor read.
“Despite everything, victory is sure,” he declared, stating that the struggle is not just about winning but about standing for truth and fighting gallantly.
Governor Fubara declared that the era of deception in Rivers State is over, emphasizing that the state is now determined to take control of its destiny.
