The current political landscape in Rivers State is in limbo as the seven-day Ultimum handed out to Governor Siminilayi Fubara by the fully constituted House of Assembly to resubmit the 2024 budget reaches its deadline this week.
The ultimatum, while issued last week on July 8, wasn’t specific if it was seven working days or seven business days, so expiration could be Monday or Wednesday.
Dune Maol, Chairman of the House Committee who is also Deputy Speaker of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, urged the House to formally inform the current governor to present the budget owing to the recent court ruling, which they believe gave their claim constitutional grounds.
It bears mentioning that the re-presentation of the budget was a key element of the presidential peace pact in December, aimed at resolving the political differences in the state.
Earlier, the Governor of the south-south state had submitted the N800bn budget to the Assembly then led by Edison Ehie who now serves as the Governor’s Chief of staff and was replaced by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
Last week, Governor Fubara announced that his administration is already preparing the 2025 budget, indicating that the expectation of a re-presentation won’t be met.
Meanwhile, Chijioke Ihunwo, caretaker Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area has described the ultimatum as laughable urging Amaewhule to accept his fate as a former assembly member, after defecting from the People’s Democratic Party to the APC.
He encouraged the people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, comprising Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, to continue throwing their weight behind the Governor under the leadership of former Senator John Azuta-Mbata.
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The politician, who was criticized for appointing 100 aides last week, said the decision which other CTC Chairmen are also implementing is aimed at bringing local government administration closer to the grassroots.
He announced that more appointments would be made in the coming days, to demonstrate that the Fubara-led government is inclusive.
It’s been one thing after another in Rivers State since a fire broke out at the State House of Assembly in October, which was followed by a failed impeachment of the Governor, resignations en masse from the executive cabinet, and tension over local government administration.
It remains to be seen how things progress within the week.
