Pro-Fubara Lawmakers Dismiss Pro-Wike Assembly’s Directive On Gov’t Spending

• Victor Oko-Jumbo, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Fubara, dismissed the resolution passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led faction
• Oko-Jumbo pointed out that the Assembly seats held by Amaewhule and his faction were declared vacant on December 13, 2023, when Edison Ogerenye Ehie was the recognized Speaker

Victor Oko-Jumbo, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has dismissed a resolution regarding government expenditures passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led members of the Rivers Assembly.

On Monday, the Amaewhule-led Assembly, which aligns with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, prohibited Governor Fubara and the state government from withdrawing money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

In response, Oko-Jumbo, at the commencement of legislative business in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, questioned the legitimacy of such a directive from Amaewhule.

Oko-Jumbo pointed out that the Assembly seats held by Amaewhule and his faction were declared vacant on December 13, 2023, when Edison Ogerenye Ehie was the duly recognized Speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly.

He expressed disbelief at the news of the sitting by the 25 former members led by Amaewhule on July 15.

“The House awaits the presentation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the next three financial years, according to Section 10 of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law, No. 8 of 2010, to prepare for the 2025 fiscal year,” Oko-Jumbo added.

He explained that under his leadership, the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly is the only one recognized by law and has been fulfilling its financial obligations, including paying salaries to recognized members and their aides.

He criticized the Amaewhule faction’s reliance on Section 122 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows a state governor to make appropriations for six months if an Appropriation Bill is not presented, by clarifying, “May I remind the defected members that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of the then Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, DSSRS. And it was duly passed on the 13th of December, 2023, and assented to on the 14th of December, 2023.”

Oko-Jumbo called on the public to disregard the actions of the Amaewhule faction and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite preparations for by-elections to fill the vacant seats created by the defections.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Rivers State Government were unsuccessful.