Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday addressed growing controversies surrounding his presentation of the 2025 budget to three members of the State House of Assembly.
He argued that the 27 legislators who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) had forfeited their seats, rendering them ineligible to participate in legislative activities.
Fubara, who has been at odds with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, and his supporters, stated that he had endured enough provocations from Wike’s allies.
Speaking after signing the N1.1 trillion budget at the State House in Port Harcourt, Fubara affirmed the legitimacy of the three-member Assembly led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo.
He said, “I want to say this, maybe for some persons somewhere who are still mixing up issues. We have only one Assembly and that Assembly is headed by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.
“A group of friends about nine months ago embarked on what is called the sea-bared journey; halfway through the vessel, while they were coasting, they realized that they were entering the den of devils and sharks, and they now want to retreat.
“It is too late, and the truth is that we are not going back. We have given them enough room for peace. There is no governor in Nigeria who can take the kind of insult I took from those set of people.
“As it stands now, our major target is the interest of Rivers State, and we will continue to defend the integrity of governance. As far as I am concerned, we have moved on.”
“We will make sure that we kick-start, so that the record of performance that was accorded by this administration in the year 2024 will be higher in this year, 2025.
“Let me first thank the Rivers State House of Assembly for doing a very diligent job, and also realising the task that we have ahead of us, which is to continue to work for Rivers people. So, I want to thank you for working very hard and ensuring that we hit the ground running in this New Year.”
