The House Spokesperson and Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Enemi Alabo George, has dismissed the allegations made by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, labeling them as a “comedy skit” designed to tarnish the reputation of the Assembly. George emphasized that following the Supreme Court’s ruling on March 3, the Assembly had formally requested the governor to present his budget.
The Rivers State House of Assembly denied claims from Governor Fubara that he was blocked from presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill at the Assembly complex. “Immediately after the judgment, we reached out to the governor, urging him to submit the appropriation bill. We acted swiftly because we have the best interests of the state at heart and wanted to ensure that the people of Rivers State did not suffer any setbacks,” George stated.
The Assembly reaffirmed its dedication to upholding the rule of law and called on the governor to prioritize the welfare of the people. “This Assembly will continue to uphold the rule of law and remain committed to advancing the interests of Rivers State. We urge him to take the necessary steps so that the people of Rivers can thrive. He is playing with the lives and livelihoods of our citizens,” George added. “In our letter, we outlined our expectations and set a clear timeline due to the urgency of the matter. Additionally, we requested that he submit the names of his nominees for commissioners and board members to be screened and confirmed during our subsequent sitting.”
Despite enduring over a year of withheld entitlements and the demolition of their chambers, the Assembly has consistently urged Governor Fubara to expedite the budget presentation for the state’s progress.
George further questioned the governor’s integrity, highlighting contradictions in his claim that he had been blocked from the Assembly complex. “How can he claim that we blocked him from presenting his budget? This is the height of insincerity. We actually need the budget passed because the governor has owed us our entitlements for over a year, and without the budget, we can’t receive them,” he explained. “The governor and his team staged Wednesday’s drama with the sole aim of tarnishing the Assembly’s image. He’s trying to manipulate public sentiment, but the truth has come to light.”
Labeling the incident as a political maneuver, George accused Fubara of orchestrating a media stunt to discredit the Assembly.
