Politics
Pro-Wike lawmakers bar Fubara from state revenue, warn against violation
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, on Monday, wrote to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, stopping him from spending funds from the state Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The development followed the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to the governor by the lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for him to submit the 2024 budget afresh.
The fresh presentation of the budget was among the conditions for peace, signed during a parley held at the instance of President Bola Tinubu to reconcile the factions of Wike and Fubara, in Abuja.
Fubara, in 2023, presented an Appropriation Bill of over N800bn for the 2024 fiscal year to the lawmakers loyal to him, then led by Edison Ehie, for approval.
Barely 24 hours after the budget presentation, the four-member Assembly passed it and presented it to Fubara for assent.
Ehie, then factional Speaker of the House, later resigned and was subsequently appointed Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, by Fubara.
After the peace agreement, the Amaewhule-led Assembly waited for the governor to re-submit the budget.
The crisis, however, got worse, leading to the pro-Fubara lawmakers electing Victor Oko-Jumbo as factional Speaker.
The governor declared that the pro-Wike lawmakers were no longer known to the law, as the court had restrained them as lawmakers in the state, following their defection to the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers appealed the judgment and the Court of Appeal, on July 4, quashed the ruling of the high court and reinstated the pro-Wike lawmakers as members of the state House of Assembly.
At their Monday, May 9 proceedings, they gave Fubara a one-week ultimatum to present the budget.
The Assembly, at its fourth Legislative Sitting, held at the Assembly Quarters on Aba Road, on Monday, said Fubara violated the Constitution by spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state without an appropriation law.
In a statement by the media aide to the Speaker, Martin Wachukwu, the lawmakers said the decision to bar Fubara from further spending followed a remark by the House Leader, Major Jack.
Jack drew the attention of the Assembly to the fact that “Given the combined provisions of Sections 121 and 122 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, Governor Siminialayi Fubara has flagrantly continued to violate the Constitution by spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state without an Appropriation Law’.
“Debating on the statement by the House Leader, members in unison and strong terms condemned Governor Fubara’s wanton disregard to the Constitution, despite repeating reminders of the consequences of his actions and thereby express their support for the shutdown of expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state forthwith.”
Amaewhule said, “It is unfortunate that Governor Fubara now sees a violation of the provisions of the Constitution and judgments of courts as a way of governance. As representatives of the people, the House would not look the other way while the governor consistently tramples on the Constitution he swore to uphold.”
The House, therefore, resolved to write to Fubara, intimating him of the shutdown of all expenditures from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.
The House further resolved to notify the Federal Government, its relevant agencies, banks, and local and foreign donor agencies of the development, and to advise them not to have any transactions with the Rivers State government, pending the resolution of matters relating to the 2024 Appropriation Law.
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, were unsuccessful, as he neither picked up calls put across to his mobile line by our correspondent nor replied to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, a group in Rivers State, G-23, has called on a federal lawmaker, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, to stop interfering in the politics of the state.
The group, which says it covers all the 23 local government areas of the state, warned Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North-South Federal Constituency of Imo State, to stop meddling in the affairs of the state.
It also said the roles played by the lawmaker and a national chairman of the Zenith Labour Party, Dan Nwanyanwu since the beginning of the political crisis in Rivers State were stoking further crisis.
Ugochinyere is the leader of G-60 members of the House of Representatives and had been a critic of Wike over the crisis in Rivers State.
Leader of the G-23, Chief Tony Okocha, speaking at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, on Monday, said Ugochinyere should be more concerned about how to initiate bills aimed at solving the “gully-ridden” roads and flooding ravaging his community and the activities of the disbanded Indigenous People of Biafra, rather than commenting on every issue in Rivers State.
Okocha, who is also the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, said the role of Ugochinyere and Nwanyanwu were condemnable.
“We have listened and heard from some quarters and some persons that we have decided in our meetings to tag them ancient and medieval meddlesome interlopers. These groups, one I see on television, are led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, who is a member of the House of Representatives and flaunts a group with a nomenclature of G-60.
“We have today decided to condemn in concrete and absolute terms the activity of a man who should be responsible, who has turned himself to be a hireling of the Rivers State government and the governor.
“It beats our imagination that instead of the gully-ridden roads that characterised his area, instead of the flood issues that are almost sweeping away some communities in his area, he has seen practically nothing.
“Ugochinyere is not from Rivers State. He has seen Rivers as a conduit pipe to siphon money from a government that is rudderless. It is Ugochinyere now that is speaking about issues in Rivers State. We will not accept that,” he said.
He also took a swipe at Ugochinyere over his comments against Wike, saying that the former governor was too big for the lawmaker to deride.
The G-23 leader also condemned the statement allegedly credited to Nwanyanwu, who warned Tinubu that Wike was nursing presidential ambition and would likely contest the 2027 election against him.
“Daniel Nwanyanwu is a serial political failure. What gives him the impetus or why should he imagine that Rivers State is a place for him to fall back? I am not aware that his Zenith Labour Party has an office in Rivers State.
“He (Nwanyanwu) was booted out of the Labour Party. He has left all the trappings of his political failure to become another hireling for the Rivers State government. It is unthinkable,” he said.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has responded to recent remarks by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, , agreeing that President Bola Tinubu has done his best to address Nigeria’s security challenges but arguing that his best is no longer enough.
Obi made the remarks during an interview with Chude Jideonwo, uploaded on YouTube on Thursday, while explaining why Nigerians should support his presidential ambition over other opposition candidates.
Asked why he should be elected president, Obi urged Nigerians to evaluate his past record alongside his current vision for the country.
“It’s for you to look at my past and look at what I’m saying now,” he said.
Responding to Adeboye’s recent comments on Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, Obi described the respected cleric as a sincere and credible religious leader whose assessment was fair.
“Somebody asked me yesterday, they said that Pastor Adeboye said Tinubu has tried his best and he’s not happy. And I said, no, Pastor Adeboye remains a very revered, respected religious father, whom I believe in his genuineness and goodness.
“And what he said was correct. He said he has tried his best. He’s trying his best. That’s it. It’s the correct answer.
“The question to ask is: Is his best good enough? Where we find ourselves today, that leads to the issue of capacity.”
Obi maintained that effective leadership is defined by competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character, arguing that Nigeria’s persistent security challenges demonstrate the need for a leadership change.
“When I talk about leadership, I say competence, capacity, compassion, commitment, character. These are the issues. President Tinubu is tired. He needs to go home and rest,” Obi said.
Adeboye had earlier defended President Tinubu against criticisms over worsening insecurity during the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala organised by the Save Nigeria Group in Washington, D.C., on June 23.
The cleric argued that the President had fulfilled his responsibility by issuing directives to the military, stressing that a commander-in-chief was not expected to personally participate in combat operations.
“I don’t support those who are accusing the President of not doing enough. When the commander-in-chief has given instructions to his subordinates, he has done his bit. You don’t expect him to go and put on khaki and fight,” Adeboye said.
Despite defending the President’s role, Adeboye expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, noting that terrorism and kidnapping had spread beyond northern Nigeria into the southern parts of the country.
He also revealed that he advised the President to issue a 90-day ultimatum to military commanders to either end the insecurity or resign, while urging the government to identify and prosecute those sponsoring terrorist activities.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), , has expressed concern over what he described as persistent harassment and frustration ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Obi alleged that the actions of the current administration have made his daily activities increasingly difficult and negatively affected his means of livelihood.
The former Anambra State governor claimed he faces constant obstacles and said the pressure has become so intense that he cannot be certain he will be alive to participate in the 2027 presidential election.
“With the way this government is going, I may not even be alive to contest the 2027 election. Every single thing I do for a living, this government is deliberately frustrating. I face frustration every day,” Obi said.
He also alleged that he recently experienced an incident at an airport where his vehicle was locked, citing it as an example of the challenges he claims to be facing.
Obi did not provide further details about the airport incident or identify those allegedly responsible for the action.
The candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, , has unveiled an ambitious legislative agenda aimed at positioning the district as a globally competitive hub for innovation, technology, agriculture and enterprise.
In a statement addressed to the people of Ebonyi Central, Odoh thanked the leadership of the NDC, party members, stakeholders and supporters for entrusting him with the party’s ticket for the 2027 general election.
He described his emergence as a call to service and pledged to pursue legislative initiatives capable of attracting federal interventions, strategic investments and economic opportunities to the district.
According to him, the future of Ebonyi Central depends on electing a senator who can shape transformative legislation, influence national budgets, strengthen oversight and build partnerships that deliver sustainable development.
Odoh argued that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, digital technology, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and precision agriculture require proactive policies to ensure Ebonyi Central is not left behind in the global economy.
He said his legislative priorities would include expanding broadband infrastructure, promoting digital innovation and skills centres, attracting agro-processing and mineral beneficiation industries, and supporting modern agricultural practices to improve productivity and create jobs.
The NDC candidate also promised to unveil a five-part SMART Legislative Agenda detailing plans to strengthen education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, agriculture and investment through purposeful legislation and strategic federal advocacy.
He urged residents of Ebonyi Central to support a vision that would transform the district into a centre of innovation, enterprise and shared prosperity, with the goal of delivering “prosperity in every home, jobs, wealth and opportunity.”
The Ebonyi State Government has moved to dispel speculations of a rift between Governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, NyesomWike, insisting that the governor never threatened the minister and that reports suggesting otherwise were politically motivated.
The clarification comes amid growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, following remarks made by Governor Nwifuru during the June 15 endorsement rally for President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates at the .
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Ikeuwa Omebeh, dismissed allegations by factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the governor had threatened Wike.
According to Omebeh, the governor’s remarks were directed at opposition figures allegedly exploiting Wike’s name to spread misinformation and stoke political tension in Ebonyi State, not at the FCT minister himself.
He explained that Nwifuru’s use of the word “consume” was figurative and merely signified that individuals bent on disrupting public peace would face the full weight of the law if they refused to desist.
“The attention of the Ebonyi State Government has been drawn to statements issued by the national leadership of the two factions of the PDP, as well as media reports concerning remarks made by Governor Francis Nwifuru during the endorsement rally,” Omebeh said.
“We wish to state categorically that at no time did His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, issue any threat against the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike.”
The commissioner maintained that Governor Nwifuru and Wike enjoy a cordial relationship built on mutual respect, describing attempts to portray them as political rivals as false and mischievous.
He accused the PDP and some media outlets of twisting the governor’s comments to manufacture an unnecessary dispute between the two leaders for political gain.
Omebeh also urged the opposition to focus on resolving its internal leadership crisis instead of criticising the Nwifuru administration, arguing that the PDP lacked the moral standing to lecture the government on governance.
He further claimed that the opposition had lost political relevance in Ebonyi State and would not pose a serious challenge to the ruling APC in the 2027 elections.
Reaffirming the government’s position, the commissioner said the people of Ebonyi State remained firmly behind Governor Nwifuru and would demonstrate that support at the polls, insisting that attempts to create an imaginary rift between the governor and Wike would ultimately fail.
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