A seven-day deadline issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the resubmission of the 2024 budget has created significant tension in Rivers State.
The ultimatum, set to expire this week, has fueled concerns regarding the potential actions from the camps of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Fubara. This move has added to the already volatile political atmosphere in the state.
The directive was issued on July 8 following a motion from Dumle Maol, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and Deputy Speaker of the Pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly.
Maol emphasized the need for the governor to present the budget again, referencing a recent court ruling that affirmed their membership and recognized Amaewhule’s leadership.
This demand comes despite Governor Fubara already having submitted an ₦800 billion budget to the Assembly, then led by Edison Ehie, which was subsequently passed and signed into law. The current factional Assembly is under the leadership of Victor Oko-Jumbo.
The resubmission of the 2024 budget was initially a part of the presidential peace agreement aimed at resolving the political conflict within the state. However, with the 2025 budget preparations underway, the call for resubmission seems impractical.
Pro-Fubara politician Chijioke Ihunwo has dismissed the ultimatum as unrealistic. Ihunwo, appointed by the governor as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, advised Amaewhule to accept his new status as a former assembly member, stating, “The demand for the re-presentation of the 2024 budget appears unrealistic.”
