In its first sitting since the end of a six-month emergency rule, the Rivers State House of Assembly has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to immediately forward a list of commissioner-nominees for screening and confirmation.
The Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule on Thursday, also tasked the governor with submitting a Rivers State Appropriation Bill to address the remainder of the fiscal year. Furthermore, the lawmakers resolved to review how state funds were spent during the period of emergency administration.
This development came on a day of high political drama in Port Harcourt, where thousands of Governor Fubara’s supporters were left disappointed after he failed to appear at the Government House to resume his duties following the restoration of democratic governance.
The resolutions were contained in a motion sponsored by the House Leader, Major Jack, and eight other lawmakers during a plenary held at the Legislative Quarters.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, the Assembly deemed it “imperative to set the agenda to reflect current realities.”
Speaker Amaewhule, commenting on the motion, commended President Bola Tinubu for restoring democratic institutions in the state. He declared that the House would now work with the governor in line with the terms of the presidential peace parley and the constitution.
The statement read, “The House resolved to call on Governor Siminialayi Fubara to forward the list of commissioner-nominees to the House for screening and confirmation in line with the Constitution and the terms of the peace parley.
“The House further called on the governor to commence the process of coming up with an Appropriation Bill to cover the remaining part of the year to address current realities; and ascertain what transpired in the last six months with regards to the award of contracts and expenditures from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.”
This move by the pro-Wike assembly sets a clear and immediate governance agenda for Governor Fubara, effectively ending any pause in political hostilities that may have been expected after the emergency period.
The demand for a budget is particularly significant, as it reasserts the Assembly’s constitutional role in overseeing the state’s finances and signals its intention to scrutinise the actions of the sole administrator, former naval chief Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).
Governor’s Whereabouts Spark Speculation
Meanwhile, the governor’s absence from the state capital on the day of his anticipated return fueled speculation. An aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that Fubara was in Abuja and was expected to return to Port Harcourt on Friday.
His non-appearance disappointed throngs of supporters who had gathered at the Government House as early as 6 am, with many leaving dejected by mid-afternoon.
In a related television interview, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—Fubara’s predecessor and political rival—downplayed the significance of the governor’s absence.
“I am not his protocol officer. There is no law that says he must resume work today. He is a governor. I don’t understand the way we operate. Being sworn in today does not mean I will go to the office tomorrow. You don’t know what my programmes are,” Wike stated during an appearance on Channels Television.
The resumption of the Assembly and its swift actions mark a new chapter in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, indicating that the battle for control between the factions loyal to Governor Fubara and those aligned with FCT Minister Wike is set to continue within the halls of government.
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