The Rivers State Government has called on members of the State House of Assembly to reconsider their actions and prioritize the welfare of the people to prevent further crises. The appeal comes amid an escalating political standoff that could lead to the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
Speaking at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joe Johnson, urged lawmakers to de-escalate tensions and work towards peace. He noted that continued hostility could bring unimaginable hardship to residents of the state.
The crisis deepened after the State Assembly issued a notice of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy, a move that could remove them from office. Adding to the controversy, the Assembly has also refused to allow the governor to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, despite a Supreme Court ruling directing them to do so.
Johnson expressed concern over the lawmakers’ insistence that the governor had not followed due process in notifying them about the budget presentation. He stated that Fubara was committed to re-presenting the budget as required and implementing all aspects of the Supreme Court ruling.
“Gov. Fubara has demonstrated his preparedness and willingness to re-present the 2025 budget and fully implement all aspects of the controversial Supreme Court ruling. His commitment to this process is solely for the sake of peace. It is unfortunate that the lawmakers are misrepresenting him, portraying him as unwilling to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement,” Johnson said.
The commissioner warned that if the situation remained unresolved, the state could face serious economic, social, and political challenges. He urged lawmakers to take the necessary steps to prevent Rivers from plunging into deeper turmoil.
“If this opportunity to pull the state from the precipice fails, the people and residents, without exception, will suffer avoidable calamities. The state could face economic, social, and political upheavals, that might sink us deeper into unimaginable crises,” he stated.
Another major concern raised by Johnson was the Supreme Court’s directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold Rivers State’s revenue allocations. He explained that this action had made it difficult for the government to meet its financial obligations, including the payment of salaries, pensions, and other essential expenditures.
He noted that if the situation was not addressed soon, government operations would be severely affected.
“The collateral damage caused by the actions of the legislative arm in Rivers State will be so severe. Withholding revenues due to the state will paralyse government operations,” he warned.
