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| File of photo of Martin Amaewhule, |
Awareness.com.ng has gathered that in a scathing attack, Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, of posing a significant threat to democracy. The assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of "gross misconduct".
Amaewhule condemned Fubara for deliberately refusing to present the state budget, as required by law, citing it as a clear example of the governor's disregard for democratic principles. "Nothing is holding the government from presenting the budget; he chose not to," Amaewhule said, emphasizing that the governor's actions are damaging to democratic governance in Rivers State.
The speaker accused Fubara of abandoning the 2023 appropriation law and continuing to spend public funds without legislative approval. "Even when we had approval in 2023 for the governor to spend, the governor left the 2023 appropriation law and started awarding contracts to spend," Amaewhule said, highlighting the governor's blatant disregard for constitutional processes.
Amaewhule further alleged that Fubara has been boasting about his connections with the president, claiming that he can get the president to instruct the assembly to toe his line. "He has been telling his supporters that this assembly, we are nothing but a toothless bulldog, that this 10th House of Assembly cannot do anything and cannot enforce the constitution," Amaewhule said, expressing concern over the governor's attempts to undermine the legislature.
The speaker also accused the executive of travelling and spending public funds without authorisation from the legislature. "And they are moving about from place to place, spending taxpayers' money without approval," Amaewhule said, calling for accountability and transparency in governance.
Amaewhule stated that several interventions by President Bola Tinubu and former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike had failed to resolve the impasse, with Fubara refusing to present the budget. "Mr President has called several meetings, and our leader, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, has called several meetings," Amaewhule said, emphasizing that the governor's actions are a clear indication of his disregard for democratic principles.
The Rivers State House of Assembly speaker described the situation as a governance crisis, stating that the state had never experienced such a level of instability. "Rivers State has never had it this bad in the entire Nigeria. Siminalayi Fubara is a mistake; he is a mistake," Amaewhule said, calling for urgent action to address the situation.
Amaewhule emphasized that no other state in Nigeria, and possibly across West Africa, has failed to present a budget for the coming fiscal year at this time. "It is unbelievable that in the 21st century, a state like Rivers has neither presented nor passed an appropriation bill for 2026," he said, adding that nothing constitutionally prevents the governor from presenting the budget.
The impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy are seen as a test of the strength of democracy in Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole. The outcome of this crisis will have far-reaching implications for the country's democratic future.
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