THE governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, announced that his administration has initiated the preparations for the 2025 budget, which will be presented soon.
Governor Fubara affirmed that the process is ongoing despite the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly’s request for the resubmission of the 2024 budget proposal.
During a visit from a delegation representing Etche and Omuma Local Government Areas at the government house in Port Harcourt, Governor Fubara advised the people to disregard the calls by the Amaewhule group, citing their lack of legitimacy.
Reflecting on the Assembly members’ defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, Governor Fubara mentioned his initial intention to them help before their political shift.
“I wanted to help them. We all knew what happened when they crossed and how did they cross? Because of our God for them to make that mistake”.
“They are gone, they are gone”.
While the specific details of this assistance were not disclosed, it may have involved implementing political solutions outlined in the Presidential Peace Pact, a plan which he seems to have abandoned.
Governor Fubara emphasized that the defected lawmakers, including Martin Amaewhule, lost their seats when they announced their defection in December 2023.
He clarified that the then Speaker, Edison Ehie, who now serves as his Chief of Staff, had declared their seats vacant at that time.
Furthermore, Governor Fubara assured the delegation that the 2025 budget will prioritize sectors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture, as per the delegation’s request, given their primary occupation in farming.
He also confirmed that his administration is collaborating with the police to address the herders-farmers clash in the Local Government Areas, aiming to restore peace and enhance productivity.