Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday, justified his decision to present the 2025 budget to three lawmakers, asserting that the 27 members of the State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress had permanently lost their seats.

According to him, there is no remedy or opportunity for the 27 lawmakers, loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike, to return to the Assembly.

Fubara, who is engaged in a running battle with Wike, said he had endured enough insult from Wike?s camp and would tolerate no more.

He spoke shortly after signing the N1.1tn 2025 budget at the state House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Fubara dismissed claims of a factional Assembly, stating that the three-member Assembly led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo is the only legitimate legislative body.

He said, ?I want to say this, maybe for some persons somewhere who are still mixing up issues. We have only one Assembly and that Assembly is headed by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.

?A group of friends about nine months ago embarked on what is called the sea-bared journey; halfway through the vessel, while they were coasting, they realized that they were entering the den of devils and sharks, and they now want to retreat.

?It is too late, and the truth is that we are not going back. We have given them enough room for peace. There is no governor in Nigeria who can take the kind of insult I took from those set of people.

?As it stands now, our major target is the interest of Rivers State, and we will continue to defend the integrity of governance. As far as I am concerned, we have moved on.?

Fubara pledged to remain focused on defending the interests of Rivers State and ensuring the integrity of governance.

He said, ?We will make sure that we kick-start, so that the record of performance that was accorded by this administration in the year 2024 will be higher in this year, 2025.

?Let me first thank the Rivers State House of Assembly for doing a very diligent job, and also realising the task that we have ahead of us, which is to continue to work for Rivers people. So, I want to thank you for working very hard and ensuring that we hit the ground running in this New Year.?

Fubara also commended members of the State Executive Council, especially the Deputy Governor, for their support and cooperation, and specifically thanked the Commissioners for Finance and Budget, as well as the acting Chairman of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Board, for their contributions.

He noted, ?We expect you to do more because we have a bigger task ahead of us. We have made some promises to our people; education, health and agriculture. We must make sure we make good impact just like we have done in the areas of road and other aspects of the economy.

?We made a promise to you (Rivers people) that we will continue to protect, defend, and promote the interest of our dear state.?

In his speech, Speaker Oko-Jumbo said under Fubara, the state had witnessed unprecedented growth in infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, education, social welfare, security, and other sectors.

He said, ?Your Excellency, 2025 promises to be a year of strategic planning and partnership. We have no doubt that you will carry out the task of developing and delivering the dividends of democracy to every nook and cranny of Rivers State.

?So, Your Excellency, on behalf of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, we want to say thank you for being the people?s governor, and thank you for the strategic partnership with the legislature.?

Meanwhile, the opposition APC in Rivers State on Thursday again condemned Fubara?s decision to present the budget to three lawmakers while excluding the 27 others loyal to Wike.

Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, described Fubara?s action as illegal and a blatant disregard for judicial pronouncements.

Briefing newsmen at his residence in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Okocha referenced a January 2024 ruling by Justice James Omotosho, which mandated that budgets should be presented to the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Martins Amaewhule.

Okocha said, ?It is unimaginable and unthinkable that a governor with such a rich background in finance and governance would choose to sidestep legal processes.

?The Assembly has 30 functional members, yet the budget was presented in a setting that courts have described as illegitimate.

?At least, he has seen the presentation of the budget, and I want to avail you people of the opportunity of the fact that I was Chief of Staff and that spanned through 2012-2015. What it means is that I have witnessed three budget presentations

?In this sense, an Assembly of 32, we lost one to death, one claimed to have resigned, and then we have 30 functional Assembly seats. Twenty-seven of the Assembly members are on this side, three members of the Assembly are on this side. Is it not an anathema that a budget of a state as prominent and as important as Rivers State will be presented to an illegal setting?

?The Court of Appeal, in their various judgments on issues like this, have touched on these issues, and I refer to them as a forum, maybe a forum of friends but certainly not legislators.?

Okocha also criticised the governor?s leadership style, describing it as divisive and confrontational.

He said, ?I expected the governor to use the new year to extend an olive branch and promote peace, but instead, he continues to fuel the flames of division.?

?As far as their membership is concerned, they remain PDP members. I lost that bid, but my focus remains on progress, not on joining the governor?s journey to self-destruction,? the APC chairman said. (The PUNCH)

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