Governor Sim Fubara has been charged by Rivers State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Tony Okocha, for fostering discord in the state.
Okocha stressed that Rivers would face the biggest political crisis and criticized Fubara for presenting the 2025 budget to a section of the state House of Assembly.
According to reports, in December, Fubara gave the House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, a budget of N1.1 trillion.
Governor Fubara’s letter asking for permission to introduce the appropriation measure at their plenary had already been read by the four members, who were led by Speaker Oko-Jumbo.
Okocha, however, claimed that in his budget presentation, Fubara ignored the law and court rulings.
Speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Okocha revealed this.
He stated: “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.
“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. 27 of the Assembly members are on this side, and three members of the Assembly are on this side.
“Is it not 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 judgements on issues like these, have touched on these issues, and I refer to them as a forum, maybe a forum of friends but certainly not legislators.”
