Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been accused by Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule of purposefully excluding legislators and “setting the stage for another crisis” in the state.
In response to Fubara’s remarks on Wednesday, Amaewhule spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt on Thursday while accompanied by ten MPs.
The governor had bemoaned the fact that Nyesom Wike, his political patron, had not yet fulfilled his pledge to arrange a meeting between him and the MPs who supported Wike.
At a project launch on Wednesday, Fubara declared his commitment to peace and his willingness to accommodate the needs of the MPs who support the FCT Minister.
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But reacting, Amaewhule accused the governor of lying, sidelining the Assembly, and being “reactionary,” citing the state of education as an example.
He claimed that, in contrast to Fubara’s assertions, Wike had called multiple sessions in Abuja and Port Harcourt where the governor and legislators were present in person.
Amaewhule accused Fubara of spending from both the 2024 and 2025 budgets without legislative sanction and claimed that since taking office, he had showed no willingness to cooperate with the House.
Additionally, he said that while the Assembly remained dedicated to peace and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the governor was “preparing the grounds for another round of crisis” and had broken all past agreements with legislators.
He urged the governor to “brace up to be the true leader Rivers people desire,” adding that the public had “suffered too much because of the governor’s alleged indolence.”
Amaewhule said, “Everybody is aware that we are currently on recess, meeting with our constituents… But we all know that a lie told often enough becomes the truth… which is why as the Speaker… I think it is incumbent on me to set the record straight.”
He continued, “The governor alleged that he has not been able to meet with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly because the FCT Minister… has refused to make that possible… We were so disheartened hearing that from our governor… coming at a time when Rivers people are yearning for peace and good governance.”
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Describing Fubara’s claim as “unnecessary and condemnable,” Amaewhule said, “What the governor is trying to do is to set the stage for another crisis in Rivers State… The governor merely lied to Rivers people… Shortly after the emergency rule was terminated… the FCT Minister summoned a meeting between the governor and us… We met with him in Abuja.”
The Speaker said, “How many meetings have I mentioned? How many meetings does the governor want the FCT Minister to call? Is it a hundred?”
Amaewhule further alleged that Fubara had refused to present the budget for the remaining part of 2025.
He added, “In that meeting, the governor told us blatantly that he would not bring a budget… From September when we met… the governor has been spending without our approval… awarding contracts to his cronies… particularly those who masterminded the burning of the Rivers House of Assembly.”
He added, “The governor does not seek the approval of the Rivers House of Assembly to spend. He has been spending from his front pockets.”
On the state’s finances during emergency rule, Amaewhule reiterated that, “The outgoing administrator… left over N600bn in the accounts of Rivers State… The governor has been spending it, boasting how he will use the funds to divide the Assembly members.”
He stressed that lawmakers were not for sale, saying, “Members, are you for sale? No. Not at all!”
Amaewhule faulted Fubara’s leadership style, saying, “The governor should know… he ought to be a leader… But at the moment, the governor is failing… Disparaging the FCT Minister is not leadership at all… Sending his attack dogs… to insult us on social media won’t help the governor.”
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