Rivers State has been embroiled in a deepening political crisis as two factions of the House of Assembly engage in a bitter struggle for control. The crisis has escalated recently when the faction loyal to Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, barred Governor Siminalayi Fubara from accessing the state’s consolidated revenue fund.
In a letter dated July 8, signed by Martin Amaewhule, the factional speaker of the assembly, the lawmakers accused Fubara of failing to present the 2024 appropriation bill to the “duly elected” Rivers assembly. They cited Section 121 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and a Federal High Court judgment delivered on January 22, 2024, which confirmed that Fubara had not presented the budget to the assembly.
The lawmakers gave Fubara seven days to present the budget or face the consequences. This move is seen as a bold challenge to Fubara’s authority and a significant escalation of the crisis.
The crisis in Rivers State has had its roots in the controversial Supreme Court judgment of 2007, which swore in Chibuike Amaechi as governor despite his not contesting the election. That decision has been blamed for the political instability that has plagued the state ever since.
The current tussle between the two factions of the House of Assembly is a manifestation of the deep-seated divisions that have characterized Rivers State’s political landscape since that controversial 2007 judgement. Since then, in one way or the other, the crisis has polarized the state, with either side accusing each other of gross misconduct and abuse of office.
As the crisis deepens, concerns are growing about the impact on the state’s development and the welfare of its citizens. The people of Rivers State are calling for peace and an end to the political infighting that has held their state hostage for far too long.
