Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed that governance would prevail despite the opposition in the state.
He said was not scared of anything, noting that the worst that could happen would be to leave the office of governor of the state.
His position followed the recent Supreme Court ruling that reinstated 27 Rivers State Assembly members loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.
Fubara, who noted how the news of the judgment of the Supreme Court dampened the spirit of most Rivers people, charged them to brace up for what is ahead.
He gave the assurance yesterday while inaugurating the Rivers State Government House Staff Quarters, reconstructed by his administration, along Forces Avenue (opposite Government House), Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
He noted that as humans, the people might have felt disturbed by the Apex Court’s pronouncements, but advised them to realise that God would accomplish His purpose.
He said: “Our back is not on anybody; it is on God. I want to thank you for your support, and assure you that, if there is one person on this planet Earth that will continue to stand by you, I will be that person.
“I assure you that I will lead you with honour. I will lead you with respect and I will lead you with integrity, knowing that when I leave here, I will have questions to answer. If I am called upon 20 to 30 years from today, I want to be proud to defend my position. So, I thank you and assure you that I will not disappoint you.”
He, however, emphasised that no matter how much the adversaries had tried to fool the state, the time had fully come for Rivers people to take their destinies in their hands.
“Inasmuch as I don’t subscribe to violence, when the time comes for us to make a decision, I will lead the course for that decision. Let me say it again: I am not scared of anything, the worse that will happen is for me to leave the office. Am I leaving the earth? Is it going to stop me from existing?
“So, I am not even bothered about that. But, the right thing must be done, and must be said when the opportunity is given to us. Let me thank everyone, especially our youths. Be strong, don’t be perturbed. I assure you, at the right time, you will hear from us,” he assured the Rivers people.
However, the state House of Assembly has also given Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget to the lawmakers for consideration.
The lawmakers made this known during plenary in Port Harcourt yesterday with the motion moved by the deputy speaker, Dumle Maol.
“That pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit no.: SC/CV/1174/2024 for the stoppage of Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and halting of spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill, you are requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” the lawmakers said in a resolution signed by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule. “That the House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours”.
Amaewhule condemned Fubara’s directive to the heads of Local Government Administration to take charge of the councils, saying it is illegal and against the Supreme Court’s decision.
The lawmakers drew the governor’s attention to “the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGAs or any other persons other than democratically elected officials”.
The House resolved to go on recess by Friday because they have been working for the past two years nonstop.
Governor Fubara had on January 2, signed a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 Budget into law after presenting it to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers.
This new development followed the Supreme Court’s recent order that Martin Amaewhule and the group of lawmakers he is leading should resume sitting as legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.