Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has announced that his administration has commenced preparations for the 2025 budget, despite ongoing calls from the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly to resubmit the 2024 budget proposal.
Governor Fubara made this declaration while addressing a delegation from Etche and Omuma Local Government Areas during a solidarity visit to the government house in Port Harcourt. He urged the people to disregard the demands of the Amaewhule group, dismissing them as illegitimate.
Regarding the defection of Assembly members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Fubara expressed disappointment but did not elaborate on how he had intended to assist them before their defection. He hinted at potential political solutions outlined in a Presidential Peace Pact, which he implied had been sidelined.
Emphasizing the consequences of defection, Governor Fubara stated, “They are gone, they are gone,” referring to the lawmakers who switched parties and subsequently lost their seats. Their seats were declared vacant in December 2023 by the then Speaker, Edison Ehie, who now serves as the Governor’s Chief of Staff.
Looking ahead, Governor Fubara assured the delegation that the 2025 budget would prioritize sectors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture, aligning with the farming community’s needs. He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the police to resolve conflicts between herders and farmers in both local government areas, aiming to foster peace and enhance productivity in the region.