A former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara for not notifying the House before his budget presentation visit. Ibani, who served as Speaker from 2015 to 2023, recalled that former Governor Nyesom Wike would inform him of his planned visits to the Assembly beforehand.
Ibani emphasized that Wike would write to him or call him before visiting the Assembly Quarters, allowing him to notify the members. He believes that Fubara’s failure to do so was a breach of protocol. The governor, however, claimed that he had communicated his visit to Speaker Martins Amaewhule, which the Assembly denied.
The incident has exacerbated the ongoing feud between Fubara and Wike, which began in 2023. Ibani attributed the tension to the governor’s failure to prioritize the people’s interests over personal interests. He stressed that a governor cannot unilaterally present a budget without behind-the-scenes negotiations with the legislature.
The development has sparked concerns about the relationship between the executive and legislative branches in Rivers State. Fubara was denied access to the Assembly Quarters on Wednesday, prompting him to pledge to re-present the 2025 budget despite the setback.
In a related development, Fubara has appealed to lawmakers to consider the interests of Rivers people and embrace peace. The governor’s plea comes amid reports of an impeachment move against him, which has been dismissed as unlikely to succeed.
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