An elder statesman and Convener of the Rivers State Leaders of Thought, Sunny Chukwumele, has faulted the state House of Assembly over its directive to Governor Sim Fubara to present the budget and submit a list of Commissioner nominees without allowing him to settle.

Naijaonpoint recalls that Fubara was suspended from office on March 18, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu amid a deepening political crisis stemming from his power struggle with his predecessor and godfather, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The suspension was part of a broader declaration of a state of emergency in the state, which also affected Fubara’s deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, paralysing democratic governance and halting legislative functions.

After the reinstatement, the Assembly members, during their first sitting, directed Fubara to submit the state budget and the list of commissioner nominees.

Speaking on the issue, Chukwumele, in an interview with The Punch, said Fubara has just resumed and should be given time to settle, rather than being given directives in such a manner.

He said, “They ought to have paid him a visit first, not in their plenary begin to dish out directives to the elected Governor. That was a very wrong step and a wrong move.”

Chukwumele also commended Fubara for dissolving the State Pensions Board and urged him to dissolve the board of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission as well.

He added, “We would be looking forward to further actions. He also must dissolve the State Independent Electoral Commission and other actions that will come from there.”

An aide to Governor Fubara, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, to the aforementioned publication, expressed doubt that most of the Governor’s commissioners will return or be reappointed.

He stated, “I doubt if that will happen because a lot of restructuring is going on as I speak with you. Many things are going on behind the scenes. This is the most I can say for now.”