Amidst the sanctions from the Federal High Court for presenting the State 2024 budget to only three members of the State House of Assembly, Gov Siminalayi Fubara is set to again present the 2025 budget to the same 3- man House of Assembly.
The Trumpet recalls that 27 members of the State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) had defected to the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the heat of the political crisis in the state.
Relying on section 109 ( 1) g of the 1999 constitution as amended, the remaining members of the Assembly led by then Speaker, Hon Edison Ehie had declared the seats of the defected members vacant and called for bye election to fill their seats.
Since then only three members of the Assembly have been sitting and recognized by the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
However, delivering judgment on the suit filed by the former Speaker of the Assembly Martins Amaewhule challenging the presentation of the 2024 budget to the 3- member House, the Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declared the action of Gov. Fubara unconstitutional and voided the 2024 budget process.
The Judge further granted the relief sought by the plaintiff and ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) to withhold the monthly federal allocation meant for Rivers State.
While the appeal by Rivers State Government is pending at the Appeal Court, Gov. Siminalayi Fubara is getting set to lay the 2025 budget before the same 3- member House led by Rt. Hon Victor Oko- Jumbo.
The Chief of Staff to Gov. Fubara, Hon. Edison Ehie confirmed the development on Saturday in Bonny where he commissioned consttuency projects executed by Victor Oko-Jumbo for his people.
The Chief of Staff who represented Governor Fubara expressed confidence that the 10th Assembly would give life to the 2025 budget.
He said that the State Government would continue to collaborate and support the Rivers State House of Assembly to better the lives of the people of the State.
Gov. Fubara explained that his administration enjoys a cordial relationship with the 10th Assembly as evidenced in the screening of nominees for various positions and swift passage of executive bills brought before the House.
He said, “So, the Government and people of Rivers State heartily congratulate you and thank you for being a good ambassador of the Ibani Kingdom. And this is us assuring you that as the Executive arm of Government, we know that the Legislative arm of Government is independent but we will continue to collaborate so that good tidings will always be the portion of our people.
“I thank you Mr Speaker for your support so far to the Government of Rivers State as we see in your cooperation.The Speaker that screened caretaker committee chairmen, the Speaker that has been helping us ensure that requests from the Executive arm are swiftly confirmed, the Speaker that will give life to the 2025 Budget”.
He said that the citing of constituency projects by the Speaker is an obvious sign that they are elected representatives of the people, adding that the 25 former lawmakers, whom he described as Abuja-based politicians, have failed to attract any projects to their constituents.
He added, “This is one of the dividends of democracy as elected representatives of our people show that you are elected into the House of Assembly to represent your people, one of the obvious signs is constituency projects. The 25 former Assembly members that sacked themselves, has anyone done projects? Have you seen or watched it anywhere? Are they inspecting or commissioning projects? These are Abuja-based politicians!”
He commended the Speaker for the establishment of two state-of-the-art town halls, the provision of financial empowerment to 100 Bonny indigenes, and tertiary scholarship awards to 30 indigenes of Bonny.
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He stressed, “Further to that, you are not just commissioning one town hall; we are here in Bonny to commission two state-of-the-art town halls. And before us, you have just implemented economic empowerment of 100 Bonny indigenes to the tune of N10million cash. You have further announced the implementation of tertiary scholarship awards to 30 Bonny indigenes to the highest level of education. What more can we call representation?”.
In his speech, the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, thanked the people of Bonny for believing in the 10th Assembly, stating that he has no regrets supporting Governor Fubara.
He said that the Assembly will not be distracted by the enemies of the State or by the 25 former members from discharging its functions.
He recalled that the impeachment plot by the former lawmakers against the Governor on October 30, 2023, was deliberately orchestrated, but quickly added that the evil plan did not stand because it was resisted by Rivers’ people.
He said, “We will not be distracted by the enemies of Rivers State. We will not be distracted by the 25 former members of the House of Assembly. What happened on October 30, 2023, was deliberately orchestrated. Our God, who hath in Heaven blinded their eyes and made them deaf. And as such, they made a fatal mistake when they sought to not just only impeach my brother and friend, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie as Leader but to further impeach His Excellency, the Governor. And by God’s grace, today, even though at that time we didn’t think that we would have lasted one month, but the Rivers people stood firm, the Bonny people stood firm, and we resisted and we are still strong today”.
The Speaker explained that the commissioning of the two 500-seater auditorium town halls is in fulfillment of the campaign promise made to the people based on the need assessment he carried out.
He revealed that the 2025 Budget would soon be presented before the 10th Assembly, adding that the Bonny Local Government would be captured in the provision of infrastructure projects.
He emphasized, “Let me use this medium to assure you that we will not rest on our oars until we ensure rapid development comes to Bonny Kingdom. There are so many things that we need as a people. But let me remind you that as Speaker of the House of Assembly, 2025 Budget will soon be passed, which means that Bonny Local Government will be captured in the 2025 Budget that will be presented soon by His Excellency. Today, I am standing strong knowing that I have made the right choice”.
