On Wednesday, Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara encountered an unexpected obstacle while presenting the 2025 Appropriation Act.
This event followed a Supreme Court directive that required his compliance.
As he arrived at the Assembly complex, however, Governor Fubara found locked gates preventing entry. He was accompanied by Chief of Staff Edison Ehie and SSG Dr. Tammy Danagogo during this challenging moment.
Moreover, Channels Television reported that security personnel sealed the complex. They cited insufficient official communication between the governor’s office and lawmakers about the budget presentation as the reason for the action.
This development left the governor and his delegation unable to proceed with their planned re-presentation of the budget.
Addressing reporters at the scene, Governor Fubara expressed his disappointment but maintained a composed tone.
Governor Fubara stated his visit aligned with the Supreme Court’s judgment, mandating re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Act.
Earlier, he revealed repeatedly attempting to contact Speaker Martins Amaewhule and lawmakers before arriving, yet receiving no response.
“I arrived today with EXCO members to comply with the Supreme Court ruling,” Fubara stressed, emphasizing prompt adherence to legal directives.
“Before my arrival, I made several attempts by phone call to reach the Speaker and other members.
I also personally transmitted a letter to the Hon. Speaker requesting an invitation to present the budget.
Unfortunately, upon arrival, I found the gate completely sealed, with no indication that any proceedings would take place today.”
Governor Fubara emphasized that his efforts were driven by a commitment to prioritizing the interests of Rivers State residents.
He expressed hope that the lack of response from the Assembly might be due to ongoing internal deliberations regarding his letter.
“The reason why we are doing this is for the interest of our people, which remains our most important priority,” he stated.
“I don’t think there is anything to worry about. Perhaps they are still working on the letter, and I expect to hear from them in due course.”
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Rivers State House of Assembly regarding the incident or the next steps for addressing the governor’s request.
The situation underscores ongoing challenges in communication and coordination between the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State.
Governor Fubara’s administration has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that governance processes adhere to legal and constitutional requirements.
Stakeholders await further developments as both sides work toward resolving this impasse.