Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has criticised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for what he described as a failure to prioritise governance, accusing him of focusing on a second-term ambition instead of presenting the state’s 2025 budget to the House of Assembly.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said the delay in budget submission was undermining the smooth running of government and the delivery of essential services to residents.
“The governor is yet to submit his budget to the House of Assembly, but he is busy pursuing his second-term ambition,” Wike said.
He also accused Fubara of reneging on a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu following the failed impeachment proceedings against him in late 2024.
“President Tinubu intervened in the impeachment proceedings of Fubara and said to withdraw, and the governor said, I’m ready for peace. I’m no longer interested in contesting for governor. I will not do it. Now, having withdrawn the impeachment, you’re playing smart on what you agreed before the president,” Wike added.
The political rift between Wike and Fubara has split the Rivers State House of Assembly into two rival factions. In December 2024, Fubara presented a N1.1 trillion 2025 budget proposal to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction loyal to him.
However, on February 28, the Supreme Court upheld a Federal High Court ruling barring the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing statutory allocations to Rivers State until the governor presents the appropriation bill to the Martin Amaewhule-led faction aligned with Wike.
Following reconciliation efforts by President Tinubu, Fubara wrote to the Amaewhule-led Assembly on March 13 proposing a new date in March for the budget presentation. When he arrived at the Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt with some commissioners on the scheduled day, they were denied access despite prior notice.
Fubara has maintained that his actions comply with the Supreme Court directive mandating him to present the budget to the Assembly.
