On Wednesday the All Progressives Congress, APC, has faulted Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s 2024 budget presentation to four out of the 31 members of the state House of Assembly.
Recall that Fubara had on Wednesday presented the N800 billion 2024 budget to the four lawmakers believed to be loyal to him at the Government House in Port Harcourt, a few minutes after the demolition of the House of Assembly Complex.
But, Tony Okocha, APC Caretaker Committee Chairman of Rivers state, said in a statement in Port Harcourt that the action was unconstitutional.
Okocha said that Section 120(2) of the Constitution clearly stated that no money shall be spent except it was appropriated by the state House of Assembly.
‘’The presentation of a bill to 4 suspended members of the House of Assembly does not fulfil the requirements of the constitution for all the reasons stated,’’ he said.
Okocha cautioned that expenditure made by the state government on the outcome of such a presentation was clearly an infringement on the constitution and as such sufficient grounds to commence impeachment.
He also said that Section 92(2)C prescribed that a Speaker can be removed by a two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly.
Okocha alleged that there was no evidence to show that Mr Martins Amaewhule, the Speaker of the House, had been removed from office.
‘’Amaewhule remains the speaker of the House of Assembly, the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence on him,’’ he said.
