Fubara’s 2025 budget presentation tragedy, aberration — APC chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has described the presentation of the N1.188-trillion 2025 appropriation bill by the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday, December 31, 2024, to a three-member state assembly as a tragedy, an aberration, and an illegality that cannot withstand legal scrutiny.

Okocha, whose recent swearing-in as Chairman of the APC Rivers State chapter was annulled by a State High Court, insisted that various court judgments on the lingering political crisis in the state have recognized Martin Amaewhula as the authentic Speaker and the 27 lawmakers as legitimate members of the assembly. He maintained that the state budget must be presented to the full assembly for vetting and passage.

At a press briefing with journalists on Thursday, Chief Okocha stated:
“I would categorize what is happening in Rivers State now as a tragedy. It cannot be a tragicomedy or a comedy—it is the extreme of it. Every day, you see the Governor acting out a drama, and you ask yourself, ‘What is this all about?'”

He lamented that the Governor has continued to act with impunity, in total disregard of the rule of law, and contrary to several court judgments recognizing Martin Amaewhula as the legitimate Speaker of the state House of Assembly. He blamed the Governor for prolonging political hostilities in Rivers State.

Okocha added:
“It’s unfortunate, unimaginable, and unthinkable that the Governor, who wasn’t dropped from heaven but rose through the ranks, is acting with such impunity. If for nothing else, he was a civil servant—a full-fledged civil servant in the Ministry of Finance.

The Governor served as Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) in Government House, Permanent Secretary in charge of finance, and Accountant General of the state.

“This means that over the years, he is no novice in the business of budgeting and how it is presented. At least, he has witnessed budget presentations. I was Chief of Staff and witnessed three budget presentations. Budgeting is a governmental ritual, not just for government but for any legal establishment. It is a yearly ritual in any polity. On the day of a budget presentation, we even organized a luncheon between the executive, the legislature, and friends of the government because we viewed this ritual as being on the verge of consummation.

“I’m sure we all understand what a budget is: it’s a submission from ministries, agencies, and departments, with the cumulative sum being called a budget. In other words, it’s not something anyone can conjure out of their whims and caprices.

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“Now, in this case, we have an assembly of 32 members. One seat was lost to death, another claimed resignation, leaving 30 functional members. Twenty-seven are on one side, and three are on the other. Between you and me, is it not an anomaly for a budget of a state as prominent as Rivers State to be presented to an illegal setting?”

He cited various Court of Appeal judgments, which referred to the three-member assembly as a “forum,” not a legislative assembly. “From the days of Justice Omotoso in January 2024, it was clear in his judgment that the budget must be presented to a legislative arm under the leadership of Martin Amaewhula. Other courts over time have also deemed the Governor’s presentation of the budget to a three-member assembly as completely unspeakable,” he noted.

Okocha further criticized the Governor’s disregard for court judgments:
“How can it be possible that, in an assembly of 30 members, no court has declared the 27 seats vacant? If such a declaration exists in the Governor’s mind, let it remain there until the court decides. As a member of the executive arm, you cannot unilaterally take action on matters beyond your power.

“The root cause of hostilities in Rivers State is a Governor who believes he is above the law. This disregard for legal processes has only worsened the political crisis in the state.”

On whether the 27 lawmakers are members of the PDP or APC, Okocha admitted they are still members of the PDP, calling it one of his few failures as an APC leader.

“We made efforts to bring them into the APC. I did all I could to lure them in, but I failed. I’m a goal-getter, but in this case, I failed. I have made inquiries across the state, and none of them has registered as members of the APC in any ward. The requirements for registration are clear, and they remain members of the PDP,” he concluded.