I’m Already Preparing 2025 Budget, Fubara Dares Pro-Wike Lawmakers

• Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State announced he is working on the 2025 appropriation bill, dismissing the pro-Wike faction’s demand to re-present the 2024 budget
• Fubara stated the pro-Wike lawmakers’ seats were declared vacant in December 2023, and he has started preparing the 2025 budget to present soon

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has announced that he is working on the 2025 appropriation bill, which he will soon present to the state House of Assembly. This statement comes amidst tensions with a faction of the Assembly loyal to the former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Earlier this week, 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Fubara to re-present the state’s 2024 budget. This request followed the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara when Edison Ehie, the current Chief of Staff, was the speaker. Fubara had also signed the budget into law after its passage by the Ehie-led assembly.

The Amaewhule-led faction recently resumed legislative activities after months of inactivity. This follows a Rivers State High Court ruling that declared Amaewhule and 24 other pro-Wike lawmakers had lost their seats after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, the Court of Appeal overturned this decision last week, reinstating Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the House.

Addressing the situation on Wednesday, Governor Fubara indicated that he had moved past the 2024 budget and was now focused on the 2025 budget. He stated, “We all know how they crossed (joined APC). And how did they cross? Because of our god. For them to make that mistake — they are gone, and they are gone. When I wanted to help them — I accepted to help them because we are all one. We disagree to agree. They thought they were smart.”

Fubara further commented on the vacant seat declarations from December 2023, noting, “What is holding them back is the declaration of their seat vacant, which was done in December 2023. I have started preparing my budget for 2025, which I am going to present very soon. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you. They can come to the media and dance. When they go behind, they cry. It is the truth.”