How Assembly denied me access to present 2025 budget –Fubara

•Opposition lawmakers allege plot to scuttle re-presentation of budget

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Tony John, Port Harcourt

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has explained that he was denied access into the premises of the House of Assembly quarters to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill despite formally notifying the leadership of the House.

Governor Fubara was at the lawmakers’ residential quarters along Aba Road, accompanied by members of the State Executive Council, to present the 2025 Appropriation bill in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement.

Briefing journalists at the gate of the House of Assembly Residential Quarters, Governor Fubara said he had made several calls to reach the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and members of the House.

“I am here myself this morning with members of the State Executive Council to comply with the Supreme Court judgement. Before my arrival,  I have already made several attempts by phone call to reach the Speaker and Honourable members. I have also personally written a letter which was transmitted to the Honourable Speaker for this particular invitation.”

He described as unfortunate that the Assembly Quarters was sealed and there was no indication that the purpose of the visit would be achieved.

“I still believe, maybe, they might be instructed later. If they are instructed, I’m still ready to come any day to get this particular issue sorted out.

“At times, you need to lose to win. We have not lost; at the end of the day, God will give us His own victory.”

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers has said there is allegedly an attempt by some interest in Rivers State to scuttle the re-presentation of the 2025 budget to the state Assembly.

Spokesman of the coalition, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, at a briefing, said there were also plots to frustrate the rescheduled Rivers State Local Government Election.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers State political crisis, the state House of Assembly had requested Fubara to represent the 2025 budget of the state.

However, the Rivers State governor on arrival of the House of Assembly Quarters, on Wednesday, was locked out.

Ugochinyere noted that the lockout of the governor, who said he had notified the assembly leadership of his intention to represent the budget, was allegedly a ploy to scuttle the exercise.

“We commend Governor Fubara for complying with the court judgement about budget presentation. He reached out to House of Assembly members to come for a meeting, something that Wike will not do. He called them to a meeting for solutions to move forward but they boycotted the meeting and refused to come. Who are they?The state will not burn and we won’t allow them to destabilise that state that belongs to our party.

“The governor again wrote a letter to you for the presentation of Rivers State 2025 budget, it was delivered to them, he called the Speaker on the phone several times but he didn’t pick. That’s to tell you people whose mind is dark, all they want is anarchy, they want Rivers people to suffer. We salute the Governor, Fubara for his humility to the extent of ensuring that despite the provocation he continues to run the wheel of governance in the last four days.”

The lawmaker also alleged a plot to scuttle the Rivers State council poll scheduled for August 9.

According to him, “election has been fixed for August 9th, while the indigenes are preparing for elections that the Supreme Court ordered to be re-conducted, the Wike group is running around looking for injunction to stop the conduct of the election.

“The election will hold, but it’s important that I alert you that they are running again to court, looking for an injunction to stop a legitimate election that the Supreme Court ordered. They are running around in their hideout to amend the local government law in the middle of the election to get former local government chairmen who left years back to come back.”

Regardless, the governor has emphasised that, in complying with the Supreme Court judgment, it was pertinent for every actor to be more interested in saving the economy of the State and ensure that public sector workers are not subjected to untold hardship.

“For that reason, I made all frantic efforts to reach the Speaker, which I believe he cannot deny, and other members of the Assembly.

“I went further to send WhatsApp information to him and others, notifying them that I will be coming  by 10 O’clock this morning to present the budget so that there won’t be any reason why Rivers State will be in any fix because of me, as alleged.

“But it was unfortunate when we got there this morning, we were denied access, and the next story I am hearing is that we didn’t make any communication. But I leave it to God who sees in secret places.”

Governor Fubara said that he did everything needed to be done to ensure that the situation was properly sorted out, but believes that when the lawmakers get instruction, maybe, later, they will comply with the Supreme Court judgment.

“I had to bring this up because I am aware of some news going round in the media that there was no communication, and that I was not complying. They even said that I was not making any effort. So, I feel it is an opportunity here where everybody can hear from me and understand the situation that we are facing.

“Like I said, nothing lasts forever. Even the greatest power, one day, will end. What is most important is what we do with the power, and I have chosen, even if I have the power as they claim, and that I don’t know how to use it, I do not intend to abuse my powers.

“Because power, when you abuse it, is what leads to this kind of situation. I will not abuse it. I will continue to work and operate with so much restraint because I know that there is life after power.”