THE decision by the Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 appropriation bill to the Honourable Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Rivers State House of Assembly has drawn harsh criticism from his rival Honourable Martins Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Pro-Wike faction of the Assembly.
Hon Amaewhule claims that Rivers State is the only state in Nigeria to carry out government spending without the required legislative consent, calling the current state of affairs unprecedented and problematic from a constitutional standpoint.
Speaking during an interview by TVC, Hon Amaewhule particularly emphasized what he perceives as Governor Fubara’s unique disregard for constitutional provisions, suggesting that this represents an unprecedented challenge to Nigeria’s democratic norms and constitutional governance. He issued a stern warning to various state officials, including permanent secretaries, the state Accountant-General, and commissioners, stating that their participation in unauthorised spending of public funds would have legal consequences.
Hon Amaewhule said: ‘Some people must take the bullet for our democracy. There is nowhere in the world, and there is no state in this Federation of Nigeria that any state government is spending without approval by the Assembly. It is only happening in Rivers State.
“And this is the first time in the history of our country that we have a sitting governor who has no respect for the Constitution. All of them, including permanent secretaries that the governor is using – the Accountant-General of Rivers State – all those who are claiming to be commissioners, spending taxpayers’ money without approval, will all face the law. They will have a date with the law at some point in time, and we believe that they will bow to the Constitution and they will bow to this State Assembly.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media