Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has reiterated his support for the Rivers State House of Assembly in its ongoing conflict with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.1
The dispute centers around the presentation of the state’s 2025 budget, with both Fubara and the Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, making conflicting claims.
This conflict intensified after a Supreme Court ruling that recognized the Amaewhule-led lawmakers as the legitimate Rivers State Assembly.
Following the ruling, the Assembly requested Fubara to re-submit the 2025 budget, which he had previously presented to a separate group of lawmakers led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
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Wike has now publicly aligned himself with the Assembly, amidst accusations from the governor that the lawmakers are obstructing his efforts to re-present the budget.
“Let me tell you, I’m not going to stop the Assembly from performing their constitutional duties. The Assembly should be allowed to perform their constitutional role,” Wike said on Saturday during a Thanksgiving Service held in Abalama, Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
“The Assembly people should do their work. Whatever they deem necessary and fit, that is constitutional, they should do. I’m not going to stop anybody from carrying out their functions. I will not do that,” the minister said.
Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of withholding allowances and other benefits due to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Wike also alleged that Fubara was misled into recognizing an illegitimate group of lawmakers, with false assurances that there would be no repercussions.
“You went, and they told you to seize Assembly members’ salaries, and allowances for more than one year. These people have no income to pay their children’s school fees and feed their families, and you were jubilating. You were jubilating and people were encouraging you that nothing would happen. But something has happened,” the FCT minister who is also a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told the jubilant crowd.
“They will lead you to hellfire,” the minister warned Governor Fubara.
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