Rita Odafe
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has been given a seven-day ultimatum by the State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, to resubmit the 2024 budget for reconsideration.
The directive was issued after the assembly, which supports Nyesom Wike, held its first session in months on Monday.
Prior to this, Governor Fubara had submitted the budget to the Oko-Jumbo faction, which is in favor of him, with his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, acting as the Speaker.
Ehie and the lawmakers aligned with Fubara approved the budget estimates, which the governor then signed into law, emphasizing its aims of promoting economic development, inclusive growth, and reducing socio-economic disparities in the state.
At the same time, a separate session was conducted by the faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
Political unrest in Rivers State escalated on Monday as two factions of the State House of Assembly held simultaneous meetings.
The Oko-Jumbo faction, allied with Governor Fubara, and the Amaewhule faction, supportive of Nyesom Wike, convened at different locations within the state.
While the Fubara supporters met in an ad hoc chamber in the Government House, Port Harcourt, the Wike loyalists gathered at the official State Assembly residence along Aba Road in the city.
