The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of exacerbating divisions within the state.
Okocha said instead of the Governor extending an olive branch and promoting peace among citizens, he started the new year on the wrong foot.
The APC chieftain rebuked Fubara’s choice to present the 2025 budget to a faction of the state House of Assembly, warning that Rivers could face a significant political crisis as a result.
Naija News reported earlier that Fubara unveiled a budget of ₦1.1 trillion to the House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo in December.
The four members, under the leadership of Speaker Oko-Jumbo, had previously acknowledged Governor Fubara’s request to present the appropriation bill during their plenary session.
Nevertheless, Okocha contended that Fubara ignored the rule of law and judicial rulings in his approach to the budget presentation.
Okocha made these remarks while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
He said: “I expected the governor to use the new year to extend an olive branch and promote peace, but instead, he continues to fuel the flames of division.
“It is unimaginable and unthinkable that a governor with such a rich background in finance and governance would choose to sidestep legal processes.
“The Assembly has 30 functional members, yet the budget was presented in a setting that courts have described as illegitimate.
“At least, he has seen the presentation of the budget, and I want to avail you people of the opportunity of the fact that I was Chief of Staff and that spanned through 2012-2015. What it means is that I have witnessed three budget presentations.
“In this sense, an Assembly of 32, we lost one to death, one claimed to have resigned, and then we have 30 functional Assembly seats. 27 of the Assembly members are on this side, and three members of the Assembly are on this side.
“Is it not anathema that a budget of a state as prominent and as important as Rivers State will be presented to an illegal setting?
“The Court of Appeal, in their various judgements on issues like these, have touched on these issues, and I refer to them as a forum, maybe a forum of friends but certainly not legislators.”
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